…Says security agencies know the truth

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ABUJA — NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to look into the stalled investigation of the May 4, 2012, killing of its Deputy General Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, claiming the security agencies knew the truth about his death.

NLC in a statement to mark the first year anniversary of the gruesome murder of Oyerinde at his residence in Benin City, where he was serving his leave of absence and working with Governor Oshiomhole as Principal Private Secretary, said the security agencies had information about those who carried out the assassination but for reasons Nigerians were yet to be told, preferred to conceal the truth.

In the statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC argued that from the testimonies given to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions by the Police and Department of State Security, DSS, high commands, it was clear the assassins were not only known to the police but that the police had some of the culprits in their custody
It said that for reasons yet undisclosed the police were still continuing with the familiar antics of the kind of security agencies that operated during military dictatorship.

The NLC said: “This murder is one that has exposed the absolute contradictions in our security agencies; it is inconceivable that two agencies could write two diagonally conflicting reports on the same crime.

“While the SSS displayed some level of competence and timeliness in their investigation with very few personnel, it is disturbing that the Nigerian Police whose jurisdiction cover crimes of this nature, have shown more than enough negligence to attract appropriate sanctions from the government.

“We believe the police have interests other than serving public interest in this case. Our search for investors and quest for economic growth will be threatened in the face of not just insecurity but the clear inability of our security agencies to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

“From the testimonies given to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions by the Police and the SSS high commands, it is clear that the assassins are not only known to the police but they have some of the culprits in their custody but for reasons they are yet to disclose, they are still continuing with the familiar antics of the kind of security agencies that operated during military dictatorship.”

For us, this particular case, just like all others before it, exposed the fact that our political leadership is yet to display enough understanding of democracy and the commitment of all structures of government to ensure its success. Democracy is threatened when the fundamental rights of the citizens are treated with impunity. The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights and when this can’t be guaranteed, every sphere of the society is threatened.