19 October 1986 to 19 October 2014
20 October 2014 By Abi Giwa
Yesterday, I arrived at Franklin Avenue and Shrerer Boulevard in Long Island, New York, at 10.00 am, and at 12.00 noon I was busy interviewing vendors and buyers, and shooting photographs for the Long Island Herald. On Sunday October 19, 1986, I was in a church in Lagos, lllłdNigeria with my first son on my legs, when my brother's son came, called and announced a big trouble that was my brother's assassination with a bomb.
An envelope was addressed to him as "Chief Dele Giwa". But he was not a chief and he did not believe in that sort of lifestyle. The envelope also had the name of the then military president, Ibrahim Babangida as the sender and graced with a Nigeria's coat of arms. As I write, the mystery surrounding the assassination has not been resolved. Would a president who wants to kill leave traces he is the killer or has someone unknown use the president's name to divert attention and put the president in trouble?
I received the information about my brother's assassination about 12.00 noon. Yesterday, I arrived at Franklin Avenue and Shrerer Boulevard at 10.00 am. At 12.00 noon I was busy interviewing vendors and buyers, and shooting photographs for the Long Island Herald. A turn-around.
The best memorial I have for my brother is to continue his good work, espousing the truth, and some have hated me for that before my departure from Nigeria. My sin was that I told my brother eight months before his assassination he needed to be careful of developments around his home.Would anyone see danger lurking around his brother and not call his attention to it?
It may have taken 28 odd years for the transformation of me, the work that has gone into it is challenging and worthy of the effort. They killed a good man; wanted to destroy a good family, enslaved those they could with Greek's gift, and anyone who asked hard questions became an enemy, but the grace of God was sufficient for the bold.
An envelope was addressed to him as "Chief Dele Giwa". But he was not a chief and he did not believe in that sort of lifestyle. The envelope also had the name of the then military president, Ibrahim Babangida as the sender and graced with a Nigeria's coat of arms. As I write, the mystery surrounding the assassination has not been resolved. Would a president who wants to kill leave traces he is the killer or has someone unknown use the president's name to divert attention and put the president in trouble?
I received the information about my brother's assassination about 12.00 noon. Yesterday, I arrived at Franklin Avenue and Shrerer Boulevard at 10.00 am. At 12.00 noon I was busy interviewing vendors and buyers, and shooting photographs for the Long Island Herald. A turn-around.
The best memorial I have for my brother is to continue his good work, espousing the truth, and some have hated me for that before my departure from Nigeria. My sin was that I told my brother eight months before his assassination he needed to be careful of developments around his home.Would anyone see danger lurking around his brother and not call his attention to it?
It may have taken 28 odd years for the transformation of me, the work that has gone into it is challenging and worthy of the effort. They killed a good man; wanted to destroy a good family, enslaved those they could with Greek's gift, and anyone who asked hard questions became an enemy, but the grace of God was sufficient for the bold.
