Dele Giwa’s Associates Bury Mum Beside Son

FRIENDS and associates of the slain founding Editor -in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa, yesterday, in Ukpekpe, Ekperi, Etsako Central Local Government Council of Edo state, buried his mother, Madam Elekhia Giwa, beside his son along the Ekpekpe-Ekperi Road.

There was a funeral service at the Church of God Mission, Ukpekpe-Ekperi, before the Interment, where the officiating Priest, Rev. Abraham Ikpotokin, extolled the virtues of Madam Giwa, who died at the age of 87.

Ikpotokin said: “Whatever you sow you would reap, our mother has lived a good life.”

Among Dele Giwa’s associates at Madam Giwa’s burial were Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, Nosa Igiebor, Soji Akinrinade, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Kayode Soyinka and many others.

Speaking to Journalists, Soyinka, who was the London Bureau Chief of Newswatch at the time Dele Giwa was killed through a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986, said it was a great thing for him to be at Dele Giwa’s mother’s burial because of his closeness to the late Dele Giwa. “When I heard of the date of the burial, I made it a point of duty to come to Ekperi,” he said.

Mr. Soyinka was having breakfast with Dele Giwa when the killer parcel was delivered to Dele Giwa the late Edito-in-Chief of Newswatch.

He said the only difference was that Dele Giwa died and he (Soyinka) survived the incident.

He said the legacies of De le Giwa cannot be erased, adding that he had been very steadfast and consistent to get justice over those who killed Dele Giwa.

He lamented that those who killed the Newswatch founding editor were still alive and walking free in the streets.