Former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has voiced optimism that the truth surrounding the assassination of renowned journalist Dele Giwa will eventually come to light.
Giwa, co- founder and Editor- in- Chief of Newswatch magazine, was assassinated on October 19, 1986, through a parcel bomb. The attack, which bore the markings of an official government document, remains one of Nigeria’ s most controversial political assassinations. Allegations have long persisted that the military administration, led by Babangida at the time, played a role in the journalist’ s death.
However, in his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida denies any involvement in the killing. The book, which was presented to the public in Abuja on Thursday, provides insights into his years in power, his policies, and key events that shaped Nigeria’ s history during his tenure.
Addressing the accusations that have lingered for decades, Babangida argues that the media’ s approach to the case may have obstructed a thorough investigation. He claims that a hostile media landscape made it difficult to establish the facts objectively.
” The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday, ” Babangida states in his book.
