Doctor Recalls Dele Giwa’s Final Moments

Thirty-nine years after the parcel bomb that killed Newswatch co-founder, Dele Giwa, the physician who acquired him on the First Foundation Medical Center, Dokun Adedeji, has given a first-hand account of his closing minutes.

Adedeji, who spoke on Monday on the launch of ‘Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism’ on the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos State, mentioned he was on weekend obligation when the incident occurred and recounted how he was alerted by one other physician who saved shouting, ‘Come, come, come, they bomb Dele Giwa.’

Adedeji:  “I said, ‘You must be kidding me.’” So as I received out, I noticed Funmi; Funmi was in blood. She had the quilt; was it a blanket or a white fabric round him?” he narrated.

Adedeji mentioned his medical director instantly took Giwa’s spouse, Funmi, to his workplace, whereas he and others rushed Giwa to the emergency room.

“So my MD got here and took Funmi to his workplace. So we took Uncle Dele to the emergency room. I’ll always remember what he saved asking me.

He mentioned, “How is Aisha? Do I do know something about Aisha? So I mentioned, no. He mentioned as a result of she was crawling to the place he was within the research with Kayode Soyinka. So we arrange blood on each arms and in addition fluid. I inform you one factor: what I noticed that day, I’ve by no means seen in my apply. He was shattered. His two limbs had been open, after which he was bleeding. He was nonetheless bleeding within the hospital. Dr. Ajayi got here, and we struggled, however he was nonetheless speaking.

Dele Giwa requested me, “Dokun she mi o ni ku sha? I mentioned I don’t know. So he mentioned I ought to transfer the mattress up in order that he can breathe. So I did.

“I was shaking, but we kept on, and I remember Uncle Ray came in and brought his patella from home. So, but one thing was sure, and I think it was better that he died. There was no way Uncle Dele would have lived with that injury.”

Even if he lived, though he wished to dwell, he mentioned, Dokun shey mi o ni ku. And I mentioned, “Be ni, e ni ku.” But I knew the tip was there. So he mentioned to me, “After all, he asked after Funmi, his wife.” I mentioned, “She must be somewhere.”

He saved speaking; he wished to speak, however I believed it could be higher for him to not discuss in order that we might preserve him. But at about one o’clock, he died. I keep in mind very properly his blood was on my garments and on my sneakers. I hung them for, like, 5 years within the nook of my room so that each time I noticed them, I’d keep in mind. Uncle Dele was not simply my affected person. He was like a brother.

He handled me like a brother. He mentioned, I’m positive Uncle Biodun will keep in mind; he was coming to go to you on that Sunday. He mentioned so, however he by no means did.

And what I keep in mind, I believe it was Tony Momoh, after which he spoke and mentioned that they had been going to search for whoever killed Dele Giwa. And sadly, no one ever discovered who killed Dele Giwa. I keep in mind very properly two folks I’ll always remember, Dele Olojede and co., who saved writing within the Guardian, “Who killed Dele Giwa, who killed Dele Giwa, until they had to run out of Nigeria.”