40 Years After Dele Giwa’s Death, We Fought Tirelessly For Justice But Failed, Says Ray Ekpu

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, SAMUEL ABULUDE, ABIODUN SIVOWAKU

The crème de la crème of the Nigerian media trade and colleagues of the late journalist and founding editor of News Watch, Dele Giwa, on Monday converged in Lagos to pay tribute to the frontline journalist, slain 40 years in the past.

Members of the media sector and Dele Giwa’s household converged on the Kensington Adebutu Media Centre throughout the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, to launch a e book titled “Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism precisely forty years after his dying.

It can be recalled that Dele Giwa was assassinated in his school room on Sunday, October 19, 1986, by way of a letter bomb which exploded on his lap.

“It Was Better He Died”: Doctor Recalls Dele Giwa’s Final Moments

Former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a media icon, recalled that Dele Giwa had a premonition that he would die, as that they had been with the previous MD of the News Agency of Nigeria, Kehinde Adeosun, the day earlier than. Osoba narrated that “Dele Giwa had complained to all of us that they have been after him. We went to go to Aikhomu, instructed him concerning the menace, and he stated he would do one thing about it.

“Eighteen hours later, I was woken up by a phone call that Dele Giwa was attacked. The lesson here is that we should always be good at our profession; Dele Giwa was awesome. I want to appreciate the family, his wife, Funmi Giwa, and his daughter, present. Dele lives on, and he is still communicating in heaven”.

We Fought Tirelessly To Obtain Justice For Him But Without Success-  Ray Ekpu

Giwa’s affiliate, Ray Ekpu, acknowledged that his dying put Newswatch right into a decade of grief, although they sought justice and didn’t have success. They are consoled by the truth that his legacy lives on.

“That incident turned our day into evening and threw us into an abyss of grief. For 4 a long time, his companions, household, and mates have wrestled with sorrow.

“Today marks the fortieth anniversary of his assassination. We in Newswatch, together with members of the media group, have fought tirelessly to acquire justice for him, however with out success. We additionally labored carefully along with his lawyer and pal, the indefatigable Chief Gani Fawehinmi, for a number of years. Yet the forces of oppression positioned excessive hurdles in our path, making our objective unrealisable.

“At this point, all we can do is leave those who assassinated our partner, friend, and brother in the able hands of God Almighty. The good Lord says, “Vengeance is mine.” That is just not the trail of least resistance; it’s the path of actuality and inevitability.

“Today, we aren’t right here to mourn Dele’s dying, though it continues to hang-out us like an inscrutable thriller. We are right here to offer presence to his absence by presenting a e book to the general public that can memorialise and immortalise him.

“Dele and I lived in two duplexes in Ikeja, and our families related very well. My five-year-old son once told me that he wanted to become a journalist like Daddy and Uncle Dele. A few days after Dele’s assassination, my son came to me and said, “Daddy, I have changed my mind.”

I requested, “Changed your mind about what?”

He stated, “I don’t want to be a journalist anymore.”

“When I asked why, he replied, “Don’t want to be killed like Uncle Dele?”

“Even a five-year-old boy knew that journalism was, and nonetheless is, a harmful career. He modified his thoughts at that younger age, and at this time he works in a distinct career, distant from journalism.

“Journalism is indeed dangerous. Journalists are assigned to cover protests, riots, election campaigns, and wars—activities that carry immense danger. The International Federation of Journalists has disclosed that 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025. In Nigeria, many journalists have been killed in the last 40 years, with no punishment for their killers.”

Whoever stated, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” didn’t have Nigeria in thoughts.

Ladies and gents, Dele Giwa was a patriot to his fingertips. He fought many battles along with his pen for a greater Nigeria. That is why a number of buildings have been named after him by journalism organisations.

Journalists, you might have lots of work to do to make Nigeria the nation of our goals. It is just not but time to relaxation or chill out, as a result of a lot work stays to attain a greater Nigeria than the one we’ve got at this time,” says Ekpu in his welcome handle.

Ray Ekpu famous that two of their companions who’ve died now, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed, had learn the manuscript of this e book and have been happy with its high quality, agreeing that it needs to be introduced to the general public at this time.

Prof Ralph Akinfeleye eulogised Dele Giwa and acknowledged that he practised Journalism of Conscience.

Nosa Igiebor of Newswatch journal recounted a few of the particulars of his brutal killings as he was in workplace forward of a 1pm editorial assembly when Kayode Soyinka referred to as him concerning the unhappy information, as Kayode was damage too. He puzzled, “How may anybody do that to a fellow human being? How may someone do that it doesn’t matter what he wrote? Dele Giwa is just not lifeless. He lives on and has left a fantastic legacy.

The writer of The Cable, Simon  Kolawole,  who wrote the e book evaluation, made an excellent submission below the theme “The Pen That Outlived The Bomb.” He famous that there have been 45 write-ups by Dele Giwa within the e book, together with 16 items by others on Dele. He acknowledged that Dele Giwa was a strong author, lucid, playful, and provocative in his writing.

Dele Giwa’s daughter, who appreciated all that got here to honour his father, famous that she was solely a yr outdated when his father died and barely knew him, however all that has been stated about him was love.

Dele Giwa Was A Standout Legend, Spoke Truth To Power – Vanguard Publisher

Vanguard Publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu, who extolled the virtues of the slain journalist, stated that Dele’s legacy lives on, including that the Journalist was a standout legend.

“This fantastic boy, whose image is there, was solely 39 when he left. When I consider it, I ask, did Dele actually die? When you suppose deeply, he was swept away, taken away by power. But after 40 years, right here we’re all, his colleagues, fascinated about him, honouring him.

Let us all pray that when our time is up, our mates and colleagues will keep in mind us and honour us as nicely.

“In his journalism profession, Dele Giwa was a standout legend. He spoke reality to energy. He had a razor-sharp pen. He had a surprising lack of sentimentality. He was the conscience of press freedom. He had a fierce mind.

“He loved the sting and clash of battle and made a roaring success of his beautiful career. His prose was a cousin to poetry. His articles assembled yet say so. The masters of this writing craft, some of the best Nigeria has ever produced.”

 Dele Giwa Was Journalism Personified – Shobanjo

Founder, Insight Communications Ltd, Dr Biodun Shobanjo, acknowledged that he witnessed Dele, his excellent pal, breathe his final.

“Today is not a day for mourning. It is a day of celebrating a great man, Dele Giwa, who was my very good friend. 40 years ago, on that Sunday, I was at home, living almost diagonally opposite First Foundation Hospital. The late Dr Tosin Ajayi, the hospital’s owner, called me and said, “Biodun, where are you?” I stated I used to be at dwelling; he stated come over, so anyway, I walked throughout to the hospital, and if you realize that hospital very nicely, there are steps earlier than you get to the touchdown, and I met Funmi (Dele Giwa’s spouse),  and she or he was holding her hand stained with blood, and I met Tosin, who led me to the place Dele was being handled, so apart the medical workers who have been attending to Dele on that day, Tosin Ajayi, two docs, two nurses, I used to be the one one who was there when Dele breathed his final.

“I didn’t perceive what was happening, so I saved saying to Tosin, Tosin, what’s happening, what’s happening? ‘ and I saw Dele, but they couldn’t break the information to Dele’s spouse.

”I turned the exterior member of Newswatch communications. I used to be there each week, and naturally we additionally have been dealing with the promoting for the journal at the moment, so it was necessary for me to go and discuss to my purchasers, and we put heads collectively, Ray, the opposite companions, a few of these gents who’re right here at this time.

“So for me, Dele can never die, because that was who he was. I mean, he was an enigma; he was larger than life. He was a journalist personified. So as we celebrate him with the launch of this book, I think we should all take pride in who Dele was: a friend, husband, father, colleague and a fantastic journalist,” says Shobanjo.

Ray Ekpu famous that the e book is devoted to 3 males who introduced Dele from the New York Times within the United States to the Daily Times in Nigeria: “the late Stanley Macebuh, Yemi Ogunbiyi, who is still with us, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who waged relentless legal battles for Dele before and after his assassination. Gani is dead, but we remember him immeasurably.”

Among those that got here to honour the trailblazing author and editor, Dele Giwa, on the e book launch of Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism have been Sam Amuka-Pemu,

Aremo Segun Osoba, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Widow of Dele Giwa, Mrs Funmi Giwa

Aisha – daughter of Dele Giwa, Iyalode of Remoland, Chief Nduka Obaigbena,

Muyiwa Adetiba, Nosa Igiebor, Chuka Momoh, Onome Osifo-Whiskey, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, Tony Iyere, Eniola Bello, Emeka Iseze, Kunle Ajibade, Dr Dokun Adedeji, Ray Ekpu, and Soji Akinrinade, who made the vote of thanks.

NBA President Calls For Justice, Press Freedom 40 Years After Dele Giwa’s Assassination

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs (*40*) Badejo-Okusanya, has renewed requires press freedom, journalist safety and accountability for assaults on media professionals, 40 years after veteran journalist Dele Giwa was killed in a parcel-bomb assault.

Giwa, founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch journal, was killed at his Lagos residence on 19 October 1986, after a parcel bomb was delivered to him.

His assassination shocked the journalism career and provoked widespread public outrage. The circumstances of his dying have continued to lift questions on justice and accountability.

In an announcement on Monday marking the anniversary, Badejo-Okusanya stated the passage of time ought to neither diminish the worth of human life nor weaken society’s dedication to defending those that ask tough questions within the public curiosity.

She described Giwa’s dying as a painful loss to his household, the journalism career and Nigeria.

The senior lawyer additional pressured the necessity to protect freedom of expression and to make sure that assaults on journalists don’t turn into circumstances during which calls for for justice fade over time.

The anniversary additionally attracts renewed consideration to the justice system’s position in addressing violence towards journalists.

Badejo-Okusanya additionally stated attorneys and journalists shared a accountability to scrutinise the train of energy, promote accountability and provides a voice to individuals who may in any other case stay unheard.

“Our professions serve the public best when we discharge that responsibility with courage, integrity and care,” she stated.

The NBA President reaffirmed the affiliation’s dedication to defending freedom of expression and defending the dignity and security of journalists and others who present info to the general public.

Badejo-Okusanya stated Giwa’s life and work remained worthy of remembrance, including that the anniversary ought to strengthen the resolve to uphold press freedom, shield human life and defend the ideas of justice and accountability.