Nation: Invested With Nest Of KillersBy Lanre Ogundipe
The sectarian killing that has engulfed the political landscape of Nigerian nation is a pointer to the fact that the state has failed in its primary duty as enunciated in the constitution to provide security for its citizens. Neither is there any picking of bones from the seat of powers to start shifting blames on any of its apparatus saddled with the responsibility of providing security. It is apparent that the leadership could not absolve itself from the complicity of serving as the pillar stones to the assassins.
The statement made by our own WS-Wole Soyinka when he delivered an oration at the burial of the late Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige at the famous Liberty Stadium in Ibadan January 11, 2002 that “PDP is a nest of killers”, was considered by many as being cynical. But it has proved beyond a mere statement of an ordinary man, but that of the gods by the unfolding events within the hierarchy of the “ruining party” called ruling party. There appears to be an avarice to liquidate those considered to be dissenting voices to the show of madness Obasanjo/Atiku led government had fostered on the nation by the seaslide victory of 2003 elections.
Five years after long ghoulish dance on Ige’s grave, security apparatus are beginning to open up to voice out its displeasure at the tag placed on it as an incompetent organ to fish out the Ige killers, that is, if the statement of the Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero is anything to go bye. Hear him “"After all, when they talk about Bola Ige, didn’t we take the perpetrators to court? Was the Attorney General of the state not prosecuting? Is it not a fact that one of the suspects was being prosecuted and he was in prison? Did he not become a senator, is it police matter? When we take people to court, they are being prosecuted, what else will the police do?” This is to say that the law enforcement agents knew those behind the dastardly acts but were been vetoed by the powers-that-be via all forms of tactics to shield the murders from facing the extent of law.
WS warned that more assassinations will follow that of Ige. Since then, notable Nigerians are been felled by the assassins’ bullets and knives, alas! The government of the day has no solution to the incessant killings of some of its leading lights in the hands of these rudderless and spineless human beings masquerading as politicians. Just before Funso Williams killing, three governorship aspirants from Plateau State were killed in between the month of June and July this year according to newspapers reports, then Engineer Williams, now Ayodele Daramola’s and yet the only noticeable development is the scampering of the security community jumping from one unconcluded investigation to another. This is sickening and one is weary of hearing tales stories of “arrest” without perpetrators being brought to justice.
With Daramola’s death in Ekiti State, is it now clear that the noise that often emanates from the political class stable that the sustenance this fragile democracy is in doubt? More so when appropriate authorities were duly notified by the people of state of the danger it portend for a leader of government business to be maintaining a killer squad with public funds. Save our soul messages were sent to Abuja by some of the indigenes of the state on the threat, no attention was given to the cry of the poor people because they were seen as perceived political opponents of the incumbent governor, who are only crying wolf. If the authority felt unconcerned with such cry, would they have considered Chief Afe Babalola, Femi Falana, both legal practitioners; Femi Ojodu, and Chief Idowu Odeyemi also journalists and the former Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government frivolous personality that would raise false alarm? Nigerian Ambassador to Germany and former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran escaped by whiskers assassination bullets in his country home in April after granting an interview to the state owned broadcasting station. His elder brother was not that lucky he escaped with injuries.
Here is stories as encapsulated in various Newspapers report: On 16 March 2004, about eight students of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti were reported to have lost their live when Fayose’s men, led by Chief Dayo Okondo, opened fire on them. They were protesting the non-confirmation of their provost, Dr. Adewunmi Adelodun. When the state government asked all students to vacate the campus, a group, led by Daramola Olaseinde, decided to drop a protest letter at Okondo’s house. Olaseinde told a panel, headed by Justice Esther Fasanmi, that Okondo opened fire on them. The police also shot eight of them dead.
Taye Fasuba, Chairman, Ado Ekiti Local Government was, in September 2004, attacked by some gunmen in his residence in the state capital. The men, numbering about 30, had invaded Fasuba’s two-storey building in the Omolayo area of the city around 9.30p.m, when he was playing video games with his wife. When they heard a bang on the door of the living room, the wife decided to check. One of the assailants, after arguing with the woman, brushed her aside and made for Fasuba’s room. But the street-tough council chairman head-butted his would-be killer into unconsciousness, dribbled another who had approached his bedroom through the ceiling, ran as fast as his feet could carry him and hid in a bush. When he could not secure help from the nearby Ologede Police Station because the cops said they had no guns, he sought sanctuary at the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.
Fayose had revealed in a press interview that there was no love lost between him and Fasuba. In his words: “Taye Fasuba has been misappropriating funds in the local government. Abia State removed local government chairmen, what happened? If I take any action, it is still within my constitutional power… But wait. He who alleges (murder) must prove. But I am waiting for them to prove all these things they are saying.”
On 28 May 2005, Tunde Omojola, 31, Holland resident, lost his life in the political violence that broke out in Ifaki Ekiti during a by-election. This was occasioned by the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the election of Labaika Olabanji of the National Conscience Party (NCP) as a councillor, rendering the seat vacant. But on Election Day, a PDP chieftain allegedly called the governor to come over and take charge in Ifaki, lest NCP win the seat.
When the Governor came, his men took over everywhere. Goke Olatunji, Fayose’s personal assistant; Isaac Fayose, the Governor’s younger brother and some mobile policemen, apprehended Omojola (Labaika’s brother-in-law) and beat the daylights out of him. He later died in the hospital. With the coast free, Fayose dispersed his thugs to the different wards for freewheeling thumb printing. The same day, he and his men were having what they later called “Democracy Walk” in Ado-Ekiti. The train deliberately detoured and ran into an Alliance for Democracy (AD) executive swearing-in ceremony. Governor Fayose allegedly grabbed a pistol from a police officer and shot into the air to disperse the people. In the ensuing violence, 20 vehicles were destroyed and 37 suspects detained by the police.
A month after, Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), raised an alarm that Governor Fayose was planning to assassinate him. The Ibadan-based lawyer alleged that he had four different text messages on his GLO Mobile line in the past two months. He explained in a letter he sent to President Olusegun Obasanjo: “My first reaction was to ignore them. However, in view of the concealed sender number and subsequent events, I was no longer comfortable allowing the matter to lie low…” Chief Babalola explained further that his problem with Fayose started over his (Babalola’s) comments on the attempt on Fasuba’s life. He further said the Governor had no right to have deducted funds that belonged to the local government. By that statement, Babalola said, he did not know that he had hurt the Governor where it pained most.
On 13 June 2005, however, Fayose denied trying to assassinate Chief Babalola. “Chief Babalola is my leader and he will remain my leader. I will continue to respect him. Anybody who wishes him dead will have death on his head. I am a Governor and I know that everybody must accuse me because I am the one controlling their money. I know all these things will stop over time… I want to beg people like Chief Afe Babalola and Femi Falana to please forgive me if I have offended them in any way.”
Fayose’s apologies notwithstanding, Mr. Femi Falana, on 19 June 2005, addressed a press conference in Lagos. He presented a videotape of Governor Fayose threatening to assassinate him, too. The clip showed Fayose in a white pair of shorts and white fez cap saying: “The day of election is not to be joked with. Anybody who crosses my path would be crushed. Tell Akilaya, Segun Oni and Falana that I am not Niyi Adebayo (former Governor) who they can toy with. They should be warned or else… If I find any of you to be disloyal… well, may God have mercy on your soul…”
Falana revealed that on 26 May 2005, somebody phoned him after listening to the alleged threat by the Ekiti Governor, “urging me to take action. I did a petition to take to the acting Inspector-General on 27 May. I had a meeting with him in Abuja on 28 May 2005, asking him to restrain Fayose from causing mayhem in Ekiti. My timely warning fell on deaf ears. Hence, the untimely death of Tunji Omojola, brother-in-law of the NCP councillorship candidate, Mr. Sabaike Suleiman,” Falana explained.
He added that a security aide to the Governor gave him the tape because “Fayose denied the plot to assassinate Chief Afe Babalola and that he wanted him (Fayose) confronted with such open threats to my life and those of others.” If Falana’s entreaties fell on deaf ears at the appropriate quarters, Chief Babalola’s petition did not. President Obasanjo reacted by setting up a four-man security probe panel, which released a damning verdict on the Governor and his aides.
The report of the committee submitted on September 18, 2005 to the Presidency and published by The News Magazines edition of March 6, 2006, reads: “(Governor Fayose) has zero-tolerance for opposition. He constantly sets in motion activities that will lead to violent acts and always travels out of town for his cohorts to perpetuate their violent acts without restraint and also create alibis.”
The report of the investigating team entitled, Update on Interim Report on Investigation of Alleged Threat to Life of Afe Babalola (Chief) by Ayo Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, drew from sources it described as surveillance, record examination, elicitation and interviews. According to the report, investigation efforts began with the identification of Cottons Club, a recreational centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, which served as rendezvous for the suspected assassins. The investigator also revealed that a source who frequents the fun-spot claimed that he overheard the suspected assassins perfecting plans on how to assassinate Babalola. Aside Cotton Club, the panel also discovered other spots allegedly used by the assassins as meeting points, where discussions were held in connection with their plans.
Part of the findings was that an Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) stalwart was a ready tool in the assassination attempt on Fasuba and the planned assassination of the Aviation Minister, Babalola Borisade. The report confirmed the hired assassin was paid N250, 000 for the job. When he failed to carry out the assignment, his Isuzu Jeep was impounded by the governor. He was also present at the AD rally where the governor’s men clashed with that opposition party.
The panel came hard on him, both in character and bearing. Besides being described as hard-hearted and foolhardy, the report also dwelt on the Governor’s intolerance for opposition. According to the report, the Governor “consistently sets in motion, activities that would lead to violent acts and always travels out of town for his cohorts to perpetrate their violent acts without restraint and also creates alibis.”
It was also gathered that the Governor is most uncomfortable with the State Security Service (SSS) details posted to him because of the likelihood that such security operatives may not have good reports on him. Fayose’s love for intoxicants also attracted very generous attention from the investigators. “He is said to be a user of hard drugs, which makes him to be highly unpredictable and might have been responsible for some of his irrational acts.”
On his relationship with his erstwhile deputy, Abiodun Aluko, the panel revealed that their strained relations culminated in the assassination attempt on Aluko on 14 May, 2005 and the subsequent impeachment move by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Part of the former Deputy Governor’s problems actually began with the N1.3 billion allegedly spent on the controversial Ekiti Poultry Project. According to the report, N800 million of the said amounts was frittered away by the Governor through drainpipes such as Biological Concepts Limited. Aluko, it was gathered, incurred the wrath of the Governor when he insisted on due process and accountability.
But the security report also linked Fayose’s propensity for violence to the many ugly incidents that have punctuated his administration in the last three years. These were the assassination attempt on Taye Fasuba, Chairman, Ado-Ekiti Local Government; the state’s orchestrated protest led by Dayo Okondo and designed to recall an assertive member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, an incident that resulted in the death of one Muyiwa Adeyanju, and the politically motivated attacks on Mobil Filling Station, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti.
Others include the illegal arrest and detention of law-abiding citizens like Joseph Adeleye Orisagbemi, the Atta of Aiyede, the unwarranted media attacks on Rufus A. Aladesanmi III, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the attempt on Okebiorun’s life over a political disagreement and the violence-ridden Federal Constituency bye-election at Omuo Ekiti in addition to the killing of Ekiti State College of Education students for protesting over the suspected removal of their provost. Above all, the Governor’s men allegedly operated a death squad.
The security report also confirmed how Fayose terminated the appointment of two editorial staff of Ekiti State Radio for ‘ungraciously’ reporting Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s visit to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. For good measure, the investigators exhumed a decade-old family feud involving the Governor. His father had accused Ayodele Fayose of locking him (the father) in the boot of his car.
Aside the planned assassination of Babalola, the report also listed seven other names of people with complaints on threat to their lives: MB Ogele, a lawyer; Senator Bode Olowoporoku, A. Akilaya, O. Oni, Babafemi Ojudu, Femi Falana, Abiodun Aluko and Afe Babalola.
But the findings on the Governor’s aides are no less revealing. Chief Dayo Okondo, a retired army captain and former Chairman, Ikere Local Government Area, according to the report, maintains a terror machine that is dreaded throughout the state. In his statement, he claimed that the bloody clash at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) office in Ado Ekiti was mainly between the mainstream PDP and Lawrence Agunbiade’s faction.
He denied the allegation that the attack on Gbenga Jayeola, Sehinde Daramola and other students of the College of Education, Ikere took place in his house. He later told the panel that he did not fire a gun at the demonstrating students. Regarding the ward election and Democracy Walk which almost set Ado-Ekiti on fire, the retired army captain and Chairman, Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, said there was no time he called on the Governor to report the situation in Ifaki. He also denied knowledge of the death of Omojola and the attempt on Fasuba’s life.
However, the investigating team’s verdict on Okondo showed that the man “exhibits coercive tendencies and a pathological instinct for extreme violence which could have resulted from his military background in combat operations which was his specialization.” The report also referred to Okondo’s role in the death of seven people who lost their lives in 2000 at the PDP secretariat, Ureje, Ado-Ekiti during the party’s leadership crisis.
The case of Olugbenga Jaiyeola, a petty contractor in Ekiti who was found in a bus belonging to the Students Union Government of the Ekiti State College of Education during the riots, is pathetic. He was shot in the thigh by Okondo. In spite of the recommendation of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the subsequent white paper that his medical bills and the cost of N250, 000 and N1 million compensation be paid to him, the Fayose government has refused to implement both.
His sustenance, medical bills and cost of the artificial limb were, however, defrayed by Abiodun Aluko, former Deputy Governor. Okondo’s role in the fracas of 28 May 2005 during the inauguration of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Alliance for Democracy (AD) executive officials also attracted the panel’s attention. According to the report, Okondo, Goke Olatunji and the Governor physically took part in the violence that took place at the Matthew Street venue of the AD inauguration. The concluding part of the verdict revealed, “that Okondo used prohibited firearms and ammunition and could have been in possession of such.”
Okondo is also alleged to be in charge of an illegal training ground somewhere at Igbemo in Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA of Ekiti (Fayose’s local government) where thugs “are trained in armed combat, weapon handling and so on.” Isaac Owolabi Fayose, the Governor’s younger brother, gave useful information on himself and his activities. He claimed to have returned to Ado-Ekiti from England, his former place of abode, to assist his brother in his political campaign in February 2003.
Later, he abandoned one of his businesses, Valentino’s Buddy Nite Club in Ado-Ekiti, following the row between the Governor and members of his family. Though he participated in his brother’s political activities in 2003, the younger Fayose told the panel that he is apolitical, having stayed out of politics all his life until 2003. He also denied knowledge of the Ifaki incident, claiming that he is just a simple businessman who provides security dogs to clients like Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
But the investigators insisted on further probing the questionable circumstances under which Isaac Fayose returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. They confirmed his use of hard drugs like Indian hemp and other psychotropical substances. The panel also faulted the younger Fayose’s claim that he received £100,000 as claims from a car accident in the U.K. The panel said he was actually present and took part in the beating of Omojola at Ifaki. They confirmed his presence at the Democracy Day Walk on Mathew Street and wondered why a man whose hometown is less than fifteen kilometres from Ifaki would claim that he had never been there.
Adegoke Olatunji, Personal Assistant, P.A. to Fayose, is about the closest aide to the Governor. Since 2000 when he was introduced to Fayose by Demola Ojo, Chairman, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area in Oyo State, the relationship has grown remarkably. Yet, despite their closeness, Olatunji still denied knowledge or participation in the many crises involving his boss. However, the security panel did not only describe him as a confidant of the Governor, but also referred to him as an active member of his kitchen cabinet.
In character, Olatunji is known to be temperamental, a trait that is further re-inforced by his suspected use of hard drugs. They also confirmed that he was not only aware of all the alleged violent acts involving the Governor but also collaborated. Olatunji was described as incompetent and lousy. According to the panel, he normally uses the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and some policemen under his command to foment trouble. They were in the habit of indiscriminately using firearms around the Government House, Ado Ekiti and Orole Hotel in Ikere. They routinely shot into the air without any need, to create panic and fear around members of the public.
Despite the P.A’s denial, his participation in the Ifaki by-election crisis that resulted in the death of Omojola is fully documented in the Ekiti State Police Command letter ref. No LBO 900/EKS/SHQ/VOL.IV/86 of 19 March 2004. With the CSO, he arrested Joke Ogunleye and her two daughters. Olatunji, who operates a foreign account, an action that is contrary to the nation’s constitutional provisions, also has a landed property in the U.K.
He was found to be a collaborator in the Ifaki by-election, where he was “alleged to have participated in the assault on Omojola, which culminated in his death, the clash with AD during the Democracy Day Walk, manhandling of the proprietor of Friendlies Hotel.” Like the Governor’s P.A, Timothy Gbenga Joseph, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Chief Security Officer, CSO to the Governor, is believed to have participated actively in all the alleged violent acts of Governor Fayose. Though he denied all the allegations and even lied under oath, security reports on him showed that he was appointed CSO under very controversial circumstances in the state, despite protest by the Ekiti State Police Command.
The panel also gathered that he boasted publicly about his exploits and admiration for certain controversial operatives. “The CSO has been boasting that Hamza Mustapha was his mentor. In a bid to live up to the position of CSO, and be like his mentor, he has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Olatunji (P.A.) to arrest, torture, harass and detain citizens of Ekiti State without recourse to laid-down principles of criminal justice administration.”
He was linked to the arrest and detention of Joke Ogunleye and two of her children because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanour.” Joseph was also, according to the panel, responsible for the detention of Moses Olusola, Emmanuel Nidu, Sunday Ninu, Festus Akinola and Ogunmuti Ojo. Joseph was said to indulge in indiscriminate use of arms and ammunition without any just cause “by shooting into the air, to intimidate and threaten citizens in Ekiti State.
Fasoye’s CSO, according to the panel, lied on oath in all his presentations. He was also found to be responsible for the arrest, torture and detention of Gabriel Ojo, Ayodele Olowoye and Oludare Oluseyi “for allegedly defacing the billboards of Fayose before the visit of President Obasanjo to Ekiti State in 2005.” He was also said to be responsible for laying siege through the use of police operatives to the official residence of the Deputy Governor by “restricting the movement of members of his nuclear family and relations.” That is, the Deputy Governor’s first daughter and the elder sister were prevented from having access to his official residence even when he was at home.
The panel, therefore, recommended that full investigation be carried out on his role in the plots to assassinate Chief Babalola and Falana. Worse still, Joseph was recommended for immediate redeployment. The panel, after its investigations, recommended that Goke Olatunji who “featured prominently in planning and execution of virtually all violent acts perpetrated…” be subjected to criminal prosecution immediately to avert his escape. Also, the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal, according to the panel, should look into Olatunji’s foreign accounts and landed properties within and outside the country. The panel said witnesses would testify against him on Omojola’s death. The Governor’s younger brother, in the submission of the panel, should be “prosecuted with others.” Moreover, the panel recommended further investigation into his finances both at home and abroad.
The panel came down heavily on Okondo, “the arrowhead of all violent acts against perceived opponents within and outside the PDP since year 2000.” These include the killing of the five party members at Ureje, Ado-Ekiti; the death of Muyiwa Adeyanju at the party’s secretariat in Ikere Ekiti in 2004; the shooting of Gboyega Jaiyeola in the town; Omojola’s death as well as the murder attempt on Fasuba and others. He was alleged to be implicated in the possession of illegal arms and ammunition, and the training of thugs at Igbemo in Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government area.
The security panel, therefore, recommended him for “criminal prosecution” and that he should be further investigated. Also recommended by the panel for criminal prosecution is Timothy Gbenga Joseph who, because of his prolonged stay in government houses in Abuja and Ekiti, “has indulged himself in extra-judicial approach to solving and management of security problems.”
Apart from his role in the planned assassination of Babalola and Falana, illegal arrest and detention of Festus Akinola, Moses Olusola, Joke Ogunleye and others, the team advised that “Joseph’s activities should be further investigated.” For his role as the liaison in the alleged covert activities of Governor Fayose in Akure and Ibadan, the plan to murder Chief Babalola and other allegations, Babatunde Adesanya was recommending for criminal prosecution for conspiracy and attempted murder.
The team recommended the following people for further investigation: Moses Usman (a former orderly to Okondo), who allegedly fired gunshots at students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti; Mobile Police Sergeant Shaba Usman (force number 164870), the orderly to the Governor’s wife; Thaddeus Aina, Chairman, Ido/Osi Local Government Area on Ifaki killing; Akin Olayisade (on the incident); Kayode Osho, Commissioner for Works and one-time Chief of Staff to the Governor (over the attempt on Chief Babalola’s life) and Dele Owoju, Osho’s associate. Others are Ajayi Egbo, Okondo’s driver who allegedly conveyed the assailants to Fasuba’s house; Olomofe, Osho’s pal; one Mr. Brown, Fayose’s uncle, and others.
The Ekiti people have cried out, the President instituted this investigative panel and a report has been submitted. The State Security department, according to sources, did a thorough job. The question is will Obasanjo do anything with the report, even with the advent of African Court on Human Rights? Nobody believes Mr. President when he said after paying condolence visit to Funso Williams mother that he will ensure that the killers are fished out, when he failed to implement to report of four-man committee he instituted to investigate political killing, thuggery, harassment and violence that characterize Fayose’s reign in Ekiti.
The studied silence on the report submitted by the Presidential Committee on these atrocities has raised pertinent questions as to why our political leaders are fast becoming intolerant of dissenting voices? Why is it that accusing fingers are being pointed in one direction? Is it borne out of deep-seated hatred against one person or a personality? When does governance of a state becomes a personal commodity of an individual to an extent that anyone who dare ask or place himself or herself for service becomes the enemy of the powers that be and the only alternative that is left as option is “waste him”.
The slogan of the bloodthirsty demon “politrikians” in Nigerian is waste, and they leave no stone unturned in achieving their aims, while the machinery of state is railroaded behind them, thus ascribing to them the power to decide what should or should not be. These individuals are so power drunk and swollen headed that human life has no value to them; lives are being plucked down at their whims and caprices.
If these political killings continue unabated, the signal emerging from this scenario would be that democracy is death in Nigeria. The death of democracy will be a result of lethargy and indifference. No one would want to be cut down in his or her prime all in the name of serving one’s fatherland that has little or no respect for human life. Then where lies the people’s salvation in Nigeria’s democracy where democratic principles are left in the hands of touts and hoodlums who rise to power by the sheer inadequacies and ineffectiveness of the intelligence community to scrutinise the credentials these so-called leaders?
Since the assassination of Dele Giwa in 1986 up till date, there has never been any success in uncovering the gale of assassination that has bedevilled our body polity. With the gruesome murder of legal point man Bola Ige, many thought that the security apparatus would be able to unearth the devious motives of these bloodsuckers. Alas! Nigeria we failed thee is the anthem
Do we sing our national anthem as the nation watch haplessly her illustrious sons fell by assassins’ bullets sent to graves? Arise, and Awake oh! compatriot… a nation of mix multitude…. bidding farewell to her best at prime.
‘Lanre Ogundipe, former National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). August 16, 2006 |