Soyinka Relives Dele Giwa’s Assassination… as Madam Giwa is Buried

Madam Elekhia Giwa, mother of the late Founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Mr. Dele Giwa, was, Saturday, buried beside her son at Ugbekpe, Ekperi, in Etsako Central local government area of Edo State.


From left; Mrs. Funmi Giwa, Dele’s Giwa’s widow; Mr. Soji Akinrinade, Mr Ray Ekpo and others at Madam Giwa’s burial at Ugbekpe, Ekperi, in Etsako LGA, Edo State, yesterday.

The burial was attended by Dele Giwa’s associates among whom were Mr. Ray Ekpu, Mr, Yakubu Muhammed, Mr. Dan Agbese, Mr. Nosa Igiebor, Mr. Soji Akinrinade, Mr. Kayode Soyinka and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi. Funmi, Dele-Giwa’s widow, was also there. Speaking at a funeral service at the Church of God Mission, Ugbekpe, Ekperi, which preceded the burial, the officiating Priest, Rev. Abraham Ikpotokin, extolled the virtues of Madam Giwa who passed away at the age of 87.

Ikpotokin said: “Whatever you sow, you will reap; our mother lived a good life”. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Kayode Soyinka, who was the London Bureau Chief of Newswatch, and was with Dele Giwa when he was killed through a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986, said it was an honour for him to be at Dele Giwa’s mother’s burial because of his closeness to the late founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine.

“When I heard of the date of the burial, I made it a point of duty to come to Ekperi”, said Soyinka who was having breakfast with Dele Giwa when the killer parcel was delivered to him. Relieving his experience on that fateful day, he said the only difference between him and his former boss was that Dele Giwa died while he (Soyinka) survived.

Extolling the qualities of the late Newswatch chief, he said Dele Giwa’s legacies cannot be erased, adding that he had been steadfast and consistent to get those who killed his former boss punished.