A coalition of non-governmental
organisations and civil society groups on Saturday held a candle light
procession in memory of slain Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams
Oshiomhole, Olaitan Oyerinde, who was killed by yet to be identified gunmen in
his Benin residence, a year ago.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union
Congress, journalists, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice and
the Yoruba Union in Edo State were among the mourners on the occasion.
The procession, which commenced around 6pm,
started from NUJ centre in the Government Reservation Area, passed through Ring
Road to the state House of Assembly complex and other areas of the city.
Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David
Ugolor, who was arrested and detained by the police over Oyerinde’s murder,
lamented that the police are yet to find the true killers, a year after.
He alleged that, “One year after, the
President of this country has failed again. It is becoming increasingly clear
that it was the state, the police that killed Oyerinde. There is no doubt about
it.”
In the same vein, a human right activist,
Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, to publicly apologise
to the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for the misleading
statement that the office of the Attorney-General does not give legal advice to
the police with regards to state offences.
During the first year anniversary of the
murder of late Comrade Oyerinde, the human right activist said: “While the case
of murder is a state offence, the constitutional duty to protect the lives of
every person in Nigeria, Nigerians and foreigners alike, is binding on the
Federal Government.”
He claimed that at a well attended ceremony
in Benin on April 7, 2012, a powerful member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of
the Peoples Democratic Party openly threatened the life of the Edo State
Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion, by telling that, ‘You will see what
will happen to you,’ without any provocation.
He added that, “Mr. Odion quietly lodged a
complaint with the police, but the complaint was treated in a cavalier manner
as no charge was preferred against the criminal suspect who had threatened to
violate the fundamental right of a citizen to life. Regrettably, the Edo State
Government left the matter in the hands of the compromised security apparatus.
“With reference to the fellow who
threatened the life of Mr. Louis Odion last year, you should have the case
reopened to prove that the culture of impunity is not acceptable in the new Edo
State.
“In the case of Edo State, the man who gave
us a sign that people were going to be attacked should also be arrested and
prosecuted. In the duty to defend the lives of our people, we must be prepared
to end the culture of impunity and the official policy of granting amnesty to
those who engage in violent crimes in the society, instead of relying on the
police to investigate serious crimes. Edo State Government should be more
proactive.
“Comrade, I advice that we should have a
coroners law in Edo State for the investigation of unnatural deaths as it is the
case in Lagos state. As we are marking the first anniversary of the
assassination of our comrade, we should remember all those unarmed citizens who
have been extra judicially murdered by the security agencies and other
criminally minded individuals in the society,” he stated.
Falana said he has asked the Governor of
Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to re-open the case concerning the
assassination of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Chief Bola Ige, who was killed in his home in Ibadan, Oyo State on
December 23, 2001.
However, tears flowed
freely as tributes poured in for the late Oyerinde, who was shot dead by
assailants in his Benin City home on May 4, last year.
In his tributes, Comrade Oshiomhole said:
“We have a duty to keep the memory of Olaitan alive. Olaitan is a man of
uncommon vision and clarity. He was a very selfless worker.
“It is impossible for me to find a
replacement. If there is anything happening in any section of the civil
society, Olaitan would draw my attention and if possible he will suggest what
is to be done. So it is impossible to find a replacement. If it is impossible
for me to have a replacement, it is impossible for the children to have another
father and for the wife to have another husband.
“I am happy that one year on, the fighting
spirit is on and people have asked me why I talk in this way and manner. Some
say I don’t talk like a governor when it comes to Olaitan’s matter. How is a
man supposed to talk when a man is mourning? Is my office as important as the
life of a Nigerian?
“I am conscious of the fact that my tenure
at best could be eight years. The next position is ex. And we must continue to
remind ourselves that today we are here and tomorrow we are no more. Some time
I ask myself should we bother to talk about Olaitan’s investigation because as
we have seen few weeks back the former Inspector General’s house was allegedly
attacked.”
Comrade Oshiomhole said when you allow
political influence to influence your professional duties, you will be
contributing to the destruction of the rule of law, adding that: “Once the rule
of law is no more enforceable, the law enforcement agencies are compromised.
The celebration of democracy is basically the celebration of the rule of law.
As central to the rule of law is the capacity of the state, through the
security agencies, to identity and prosecute criminals regardless of their
status.”
The governor appealed
to the people of Edo State never to allow rascals to take over the reins of
government, and noted that, “If we do that at all levels, Nigeria will change.”
The National President of the Nigeria
Labour Congress, Comrade Abdul Waheed Umar, who was represented by Comrade Isa
Aremu, said the cowardly murder of Olaitan is a big blow to the Edo State
Government and labour organizations.
Umar said: “He was known for hard work,
diligence and intelligence. His last support and unity was during the last
delegates’ conference in Asaba. It is time all Nigerians rallied round to
unravel the death of Olaitan.”
The National President of Trade Union
Congress, Comrade Peter Esele, who described the late Olaitan as a man who
makes things happen behind the scene, said: “We will continue to celebrate him
every year because of his conviction and doggedness.”
Others who paid tributes were Comrade Didi
Adodo, his former classmate, and Barrister Rufus Olanrewaju, amongst others.
His widow, in an emotion-laden speech, said her husband did
not die and that his spirit lives on.
She said Olaitan’s killers will never know
peace for depriving her children of their father.
