HOW PARCEL BOMB KILLED DELE GIWA.

HOW PARCEL BOMB KILLED DELE GIWA.  

....Giwa was a journalist who gave tyrants nightmares. 

Giwa was reportedly killed after he received a parcel bomb which detonated at his residence, then located at No. 25 Talabi street, Ikeja, Lagos state.

The journalist who died at 39 was known for exposing corrupt and illegal dealings of the government and this earned him recognition.

The assassination occurred two days after he had been questioned by officials of the State Security Service (SSS).

The Newswatch editor had just written an article on second-tier foreign exchange market (SFEM), a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy introduced at the time.

Under the SFEM policy, the determination of the naira exchange rate and allocation of foreign exchange were based on market forces.

In the piece, Giwa said if SFEM failed, the people would stone “their leaders in the streets”.

Ajibola Kunle Togun, the then deputy director of the SSS, later met with Giwa and said he did not find anything offensive in the story.

But in a different turn of events, Ray Ekpu, a colleague of Giwa, said Togun accused the journalist of planning to publish the “other side” of the story on the circumstances that led to the removal of Ebitu Ukiwe as chief of staff to Ibrahim Babangida, former military head of state.

Giwa was also accused of plotting with the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other groups to carry out a “socialist revolution”.

Around the same time, Giwa was quizzed by Halilu Akilu of the directorate of military intelligence (DMI) over an allegation that he had been heard speaking to some people about arms importation.

He appeared at the SSS headquarters on the matter on October 16, 1986 — two days to his assassination.

On October 18, Akilu called Giwa’s home and asked his wife Funmi for directions as he wanted to stop by on his way to Kano.

On the day of the assassination, the DMI official reportedly told Giwa over the telephone that the matter had been resolved after the journalist inquired about his frequent calls.

Not long after the call, a package was delivered to Giwa which severely wounded him. He was with Kayode Soyinka, London bureau chief of Newswatch, who narrowly escaped the blast after he excused himself to visit the restroom.

Giwa was taken to the hospital but later died from the wounds he sustained from the blast. He would have been 70 this year.

Till now, nobody knows who sent the letter bomb.

MONISADE MOURNS EKITI SPEAKER, AFUYE.

MONISADE MOURNS EKITI SPEAKER, AFUYE.

.....Commiserated with Ekiti State Government.

....Consoled the family of the deceased.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye has commiserated with Ekiti State government, the lkere community and the entire people of the state on the death of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly , Rt. Hon Funminiyi

Afuye .

ln a statement released from the office of the Deputy Governor in Ado Ekiti, Monisade described the late Speaker as a gentleman, patriotic citizen, a vibrant leader and a political genius whose initiatives and ingenuity has earned the state encomiums across the country. 

The Deputy Governor who described Funminiyi's death as shocking expressed deep sadness at losing a key stakeholder from her hometown who according to her, still had a lot to contribute to the development of Ekiti State.

She prayed for the repose of his soul and also prayed that God should grant the State government and the people of the state especially his lkere community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

OYEBANJI ORDERS COMPREHENSIVE RENOVATION OF ADO- EKITI TOWNSHIP ROADS.

OYEBANJI ORDERS COMPREHENSIVE RENOVATION OF ADO- EKITI TOWNSHIP ROADS.

....My administration will emphasis on the rehabilitation of roads and the construction of new ones in the bid to stimulate economic growth and make life more comfortable for my people~ Gov. Abayomi Oyebanji 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to commence a comprehensive renovation of roads within Ado- Ekiti, the state capital.

Similarly, all contractors handling different road projects within the state have been directed to go back to the site.

Governor Oyebanji who gave the directive during an inspection of road projects on Wednesday said repairs of other damaged roads across the local government areas of the state would commence after the rainy season.  

He said the government will prioritize the rehabilitation of roads and the construction of new ones in the bid to stimulate economic growth and make life more comfortable for the people.

Yinka Oyebode 

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor 

20- 10- 2022

OYEBANJI MOURNS EKITI SPEAKER, AFUYE.

OYEBANJI MOURNS EKITI SPEAKER, AFUYE.

...Cancels State functions, declares one day of mourning. 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has expressed deep sorrow on the passing of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, who died on Wednesday, in Ado-Ekiti, aged 66 years.

The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said Afuye's death was shocking, sad and unfortunate.

Oyebanji said Hon. Afuye's death was unbelievable because he was on the Governor's entourage during an inspection tour of some projects in Ado- Ekiti on Tuesday and did not show any sign of illness.

The Late, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye. 

The Governor said he was shocked when he got a call early Wednesday morning that the late Speaker was rushed to the hospital. The Governor said he was convinced that Hon Afuye would leave the hospital hale and hearty in view of the medical attention he was receiving when he paid him a visit at the EKiti State University Teaching Hospital ( EKSUTH) Intensive Care Unit( ICU), Wednesday afternoon. 

"I was speechless when the  news of Hon Afuye's death came later in the evening."

The Governor described Afuye as a loyal friend and party man, a patriotic Ekiti leader and a tireless advocate of good governance, who in the last 30 years had committed his time, energy and resources to the development of the State and the country.

Oyebanji who prayed God to console the family of the deceased and the entire Ekiti people on the irreparable loss, has declared a day of mourning for the departed statesman and directed that state functions including the swearing-in of the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government  and the Attorney General, as well as a thanksgiving service  earlier slated for this week be postponed indefinitely in honour of the late Speaker.

"Ekiti lost an illustrious son, a perfect gentleman and  a champion of democracy and rule of law. My heart bleeds over the loss of this great leader who was a great friend and brother indeed. 

"On behalf of myself, my wife, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the Afuye family and the people of Ikere Ekiti. May the good Lord give everyone of us the fortitude to bear this loss", Oyebanji said.

OJUAWO MOURNS EKITI ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, FUNMINIYI AFUYE.

OJUAWO MOURNS EKITI ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, FUNMINIYI AFUYE.

....described Afuye's death as shocking, painful and a huge loss to Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for House of Representatives in Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo has expressed shock over the death of the Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly.

AVM Ojuawo, in a press release, described Afuye's death as shocking, painful and a huge loss to Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.

He described the late Speaker as a thoroughbred professional, an omoluabi per excellence who spent most of his time working for the development of Ekiti in both executive and the legislative arms of government.

'The death of Rt. Honorable Afuye is to say the least, shocking. He was passionate about the development of our state and his constituency in Ikere. He personified all the attributes of a typical Ekiti person by being forthright, hardworking, respectful and committed. He did his best to uplift his people in all the positions he found himself.

AVM Ojuawo commiserated with the family of the departed Speaker, the Ikere community, the government of Ekiti State, the State House of Assembly as well as the Progressives fold in the state, on which platform Afuye was elected into the House of Assembly to represent Ikere constituency 1 twice and was once appointed a Commissioner for Information. 

He prayed to God to grant repose to the soul of the late Speaker.

Late Funminiyi Afuye died on Wednesday October 19, at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti at the age of 66, after a brief illness.

Adebomi Hails Fayemi’s Glorious Tenure, Oyebanji’s Beautiful Beginning.

Adebomi Hails Fayemi’s Glorious Tenure, Oyebanji’s Beautiful Beginning.

Chieftain of the  All Progressives Congress(APC), Captain Sunday Adebomi (retd)  has congratulated  Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji(BAO)  and Mrs Monisola Afuye  over their  colourful  and successful  Inauguration as governor and deputy governor of Ekiti State respectively.

Adebomi, former governorship aspirant and chairman, Ekiti State Emergency Agency (SEMA) in his congratulatory message expressed joy that Fayemi actually left Ekiti better that he met it.

The APC chieftain also thanked the national leaders of the party, particularly, its Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) for gracing the occasion.

”I want to use this opportunity to congratulate former governor Kayode Fayemi for fulfilling to a large extent his election promises and  finishing well as the state Chief Executive. The volume of projects commissioned  during the last  days to the end of his tenure was an attestation to his success as governor. 

”The calibre of personalities who graced the passing out ceremony and inauguration of the new  governor shows that Ekiti is back on track. I am  happy that Fayemi had left Ekiti in the hands of an equally capable hands in person Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO).

I want to appeal to all Ekitis at home and in the diaspora to give same love and support accorded the former governor to Oyebanji  in order to build on the  legacies projects. 

“I am confident that our new governor had received the best tutelage from Fayemi to enable him perform and sustain the good legacies, he explained. "

GOVERNOR, DEPUTY CLOSE DEFENCE AT ELECTION TRIBUNAL.

GOVERNOR, DEPUTY CLOSE DEFENCE AT ELECTION TRIBUNAL.

....The closure of their defence was announced by their leading counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Christianah Afuye closed their defence on Wednesday (Today) at the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti.

The closure of their defence was announced by their leading counsel, Lateef Fagbemi,  SAN. 

Other respondents' lawyers,  including the All Progressives Congress, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are expected to start their defence as the tribunal had adjourned sitting till tomorrow Thursday, October 20.

Social Democratic Party (SDP)  candidate in the June 18 election, former Governor Segun Oni and his political party had filed the petition before the tribunal to discredit the election of Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye.

The petitioners (Segun Oni and his party)  called four witnesses to establish their case before the tribunal.

Among the four witnesses were Segun Oni himself and the Ekiti state SDP chairman, Bamidele Ekunola,  both of who alleged widespread irregularities in the election. 

They alleged that the election was characterised by vote buying,  ballot snatching, chasing away of SDP polling agents, widespread violence and other electoral offences. 

They however failed to mention a single polling unit or a ward where these malpractices were allegedly  perpetrated. 

They also failed to mention the name of anybody they referred to as the agents of APC,  who committed the alleged electoral offences.

Former Governor Segun Oni also told the tribunal that he never lodged any complaint of the alleged irregularities with the police and that he didn't witness any form of violence or vote buying on the day of election.

He said he returned home after he voted at his polling unit, where the exercise went smoothly.