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| Executive members of Bola Ige Centre for Justice at the event held at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos |
Comrade AWA Bamiji, the Executive President of Bola Ige
Centre for Justice protested against the inability of successive Nigerian
governments to unravel the mystery that still surrounds the death of former
Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige at the “19 Years Remembrance Program” of
former Governor of old Oyo State which held at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja in
Lagos State on Thursday.
”You will recall that Chief Bola Ige cap was rudely removed
on December 15, 2001, at the Palace of Ooni of Ife by a set of well-known
hoodlums, and a few days later, precisely, 23 December 2001, an assassination
that shocked the whole nation took place, on that fateful Sunday’s night, in
his living room, at Bodija, Ibadan”, Awa Bamiji stated.
“We learnt that all his security aides went out to eat at
the same time, without taking into cognizance the life of their principal and
that of his family members.
“This was the peak of assassination in Nigeria and Africa as
a whole and the foundation for various security chanllenges that we have been
confronting with since then till today.
“Therefore, our organised Struggles for Justice started
immediately, 19 years ago, and we came out publicly with the formal
Inauguration of the INSIGHT Magazine at the Western House of Chiefs, Ibadan,
Oyo State, to commemorate the first year rememberance of Asiwaju of Esa – Oke,
Chief Ajibola Ige (SAN), in December 2002.
“Bola Ige Centre for Justice was formally inaugurated in
December 2004, at Oranmiyan Hall of this Lagos Airport Hotel and it was borne
out of the need to start having a coordinated action across various interest
Groups to press home our demand for Justice on the murder case.
“WHO KILLED BOLA IGE? This is a riddle for his close friend
of decades, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite his bold statement to
fish out the Killers after the assassination, between December 2001 till May
29, 2007, when he became the former President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
“Thereafter, neither the Late President Musa Shehu Yar’adua,
nor former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could break the jinx.
“It is now time for President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), who
came into power through a Progressive Platform. If Bola Ige were to be alive,
he will definitely be a strong Leader of All Progressives’ Congress (Party).
“It was a general belief that he was killed by his Political
Rivals so as to have in road to the Southwest Region in the 2003 general
elections.
“We thank you all, the general masses, for rallying round
the family of your Benefactor, in terms of Chief Obafemi Awolowo led four
cardinal Programme of fee Education, free Health, Rural Integration and
Employment for all, in time of need.
“Yoruba adage goes, “eni to s’oju ko da bi eni s’eyin”, “the
people who show you love in your presence couldn’t be in any way compared with
those who think of you when you are not around”
“While we in the Civil Societies across the Globe had given
a pass mark to President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s
Democracy day, it is equally important for him before he completes his 2nd term
tenure to resolve the question of “Who Killed Bola Ige?”
“Otherwise, the history would have the great list of former
Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu
Buhari as those who couldn’t resolve Bola Ige murder case for a period of 24
years, by May 29, 2023.
“Bola Ige families, friends, associates and the masses are
ready to assist this Governments at the Federal level and in Oyo State, where the
murder took place, any time, any day, in the investigation.
“These Killers are among us and they are increasing in
number through enjoyment of “injustice” that they are getting since 2001 till
date.
“This explains why while we are not at peace any more in
Nigeria.
“It was even ridiculous in 2003, when former Governor
Rasheed Ladoja asked the Oyo State High Court to forget about the murder case
because the State didn’t have interest any longer. This is what they called
nolle prosqui in legal term. Perhaps, we should ask him does he have any
emotion for human life at all, not to talk of his Political Leader and
Predecessor as the former Governor of Old Oyo State and the former Minster of
Justice and Attorney General of the Federation
“Kidnappers, Murderers, Rapists, Bandits, and others carry
out their evil operation mostly in the night and jungle.
“Therefore, our Governors that are closer to us should make
sure that policing the jungle day and night must be the responsibility of our
Security Agents while the security network in the town must equally be
excellent.
“Our annual Budget must be such that we will give security
of lives and properties a priority.
“We need to improve in our foreign relationship so as to
overcome our inability to purchase sophisticated weapons from leading World
Powers. We need to overcome the barrier of international Politics
“Native intelligence is key. If you fail to report a crime,
what goes around always comes around.
“If the Palaces of our Traditional Rulers, Private and
Public Properties have become objects of attack in the hands of Hoodlums, in
the name of Protests, it means, a lot to the common man on the Road. “Iku ti o
npa Ojuba Eni, Owe nla ni o npa fun ni”.
“We must not forget this Great list that includes Chief Bola
Ige, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief A.K. Dikibo, Chief Harry Marshal, Chief Layi
Balogun, Admiral Tunde Elegbede, Hon Odunayo Olagbaju, Captain Jerry Ayegbe, Mr
Dele Giwa, Barrister Olanipekun, Barrister Barnabas Igwe and his Wife, Iyalode
Tejuoso, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, Pa Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola, Alabi
Olajokun, Funso Williams, Dipo Dina, Ayo Adaramola, Charles, Nsiegbe, Andrew
Agom, Ogbonnaya Uche, Temitope Olatoye Sugar. The list is endless.
“It therefore means life of everyone is in danger and
teaming up with Bola Ige Centre for Justice is the only way out.
“This Centre has been building and consolidating upon the
laudable legacies and ideas of the Late Attorney General and former Minister of
Justice, Chief Bola Ige, since its emergence in December 2004, and we won’t
rest on our Oars until Justice is done. Thank you all, for your rapt
attention”, Awa Bamiji reiterated.