(http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=goodluck_1636002c___NEW_647877430.jpg&size=article_medium) president Jonathan
THE President has ordered police chief Mohammed Abubakar to fish out the killers of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, Olaitan Oyerinde.
The Edo governor’s principal secretary was last Friday murdered in his Benin City home – a brutal action which climaxed a week of attacks on the governor and his associates.
Three journalists died in an accident involving Oshiomhole’s convoy. The government said the accident was arranged.
Information Commissioner Louis Odion’s home was invaded by unknown gunmen, who missed their target. Odion was away when they called
President Goodluck Jonathan said: “I have directed that cases of murder must be properly investigated. At the end of the day, we must know what happened; not just in Edo State, but other challenges that are facing us on a daily basis.”
The President, who also bemoaned the security challenges facing the country, spoke at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa during a workshop on power.
Oshiomhole was among the governors and businessmen at the workshop.
The police have offered a N10million reward to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of Oyerinde’s killers.
Civil Society groups in Edo State have called on Oshiomhole to immortalise Oyerinde.
They said a major edifice or a street should be named after him.
Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance Coordinator Kaduna Eboigbodin demanded justice.
He said: “We urge the Edo State Police Command and the Director of State Security Service to swing into action immediately and fish out all those behind the dastardly act. We cannot hide our feelings over the assassination of Comrade Olaitan.”
“Our message to the killers: you can kill Comrade Olaitan’s flesh but you cannot kill his dreams. His vision for a better Nigeria lives on and shall outlive you.
“He remained indomitable in life. He was admired by many who believed in his straight-forwardness, astuteness and doggedness in service to humanity.”
The man who saw the late Oyerinde last has spoken about his last moments.
Rev. David Ugolor said the late Oyerinde died 30 minutes after he was rushed to the Central Hospital where there was no doctor to attend to him.
His words: “Olaitan was with me that night. He called me after close of work and we went to Etete Street to have a drink. At about 11p.m., we left. He dropped me at my house and he drove home.
“At about 2pm, the wife knocked on my window and told me they had shot Olaitan. I went and we took him to the hospital. He died in our hands after about 30 minutes. Olaitan was not killed by his friends as speculated.
“It is only cowards that will resort to violence. We live in a free world. Olaitan never believed in security. He never thought anybody would hurt him.”
An Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo State yesterday urged security agents to unravel Oyerinde’s killers.
Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), during a condolence visit to Oshiomhole in Benin City, described the death of Oyerinde as “murder too many and tragic”.
The aspirant who was accompanied by Mr Banji Ayeloge, Director General, Aketi Campaign Network (ACN), said:
“It is deplorable to observe that our brand of democracy seeks to kill its best material to settle political or personal scores.
“As things are in the country today, almost every Nigerian believes that this much vaunted metaphoric book has become too voluminous by virtue of the incessant inclusion of fresh cases showcasing the dark sides of human beings.
“Nobody puts hope in our criminal justice system. If the security agencies have failed to resolve several murders which preceded this latest felonious act, why should anyone expect anything different this time around?
“Criminals get more emboldened at every successful strike at the underbelly of the society by social deviants.”
The aspirant urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident towards bringing the perpetrators to book.
Akeredolu cautioned that the killing of Oyerinde should not be linked to armed robbery attack “theory”.
“The spate of violence was aimed at giving the opposition party victory at the poll. The ACN-led administration in Edo state has impacted positively on the lives of the people and no desperation or violent acts can stop Governor Oshiomhole’s re-election in the July election,” he said.
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) described Oyerinde’s murder as an ungodly act of criminality.
The TMG, in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Mashood Erubami, yesterday said:
“The merciless killing of Oyerinde brings to mind, once again, such dastardly killings of Nigerians in high government positions in the past and the inability of the security forces to unravel the identity of the killers till today.
“Though these killers remain unknown, but woe betides those who can kill but cannot wake the dead. Definitely, the killing of Laitan will bring everlasting curse and unforgivable sins on them as they have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more. The cries of anguish from the eyes of his old mother and family will not allow these unknown killers and their paymasters to smile again in their lives.”
TheNation