Monday, 3 June. I made an emotional return to the First Foundation, in the Opebi area of Lagos mainland. This was the hospital where the Nigerian journalist and editor Dele Giwa died after he was assassinated by letter bomb on Sunday, 19 October 1986. The horrific incident happened during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. I was the survivor of the parcel bomb blast. I made this emotional return 33 years after the gory incident. It was at the invitation of the Managing Director and CEO of the Foundation, Dr Tosin Ajayi. This was the man who tried to save Dele Giwa’s life. His effort was in vain because the bomb blast so devastated Dele’s body, he suffered massive shock and excessive loss of blood. His chances of survival were nil. Dr Ajayi and the hospital couldn’t save him. Dele had died few minutes before my own arrival at the hospital. I was admitted and given a room next to the room where Dele’s dead body was lying. This visit was not planned. I was attending the May 29 inauguration ceremony in Nigeria when I received a surprise text message informing me that Dr Tosin Ajayi was looking for me.
My permission was needed for my phone number to be passed on to him. I granted the permission, but that he should be told to call me later at night when I would have returned to my hotel room after the inauguration ceremony. His call came through, and he introduced himself as Tosin Ajayi. He greeted him. I told him he needed no introduction. His call brought back to me difficult memories of what we went through, the injustice that we suffered, with the killing of Dele Giwa and the parcel bomb incident. He asked how long I am in the country for, and when I would be back in Lagos. And I told him. He then asked if we could meet on Monday, which was yesterday. Where? I asked. He said at the First Foundation! I asked him to describe to me how to get there, because I haven’t been back there since that time 33 years ago. By the time he gave me direction, I found it amazing how the area has been transformed since that time into a vibrant metropolis. His hospital was one of the few buildings standing in the area at that time. We hugged and embraced each other warmly. His staff all rushed out, on knowing that I was inside the building, to set their eyes on me. They had over the years been told and heard a lot about me, they told me. They came one after the other to greet and shake hands with me. Dr Ajayi brought in some of them to joined us. And they were introduced to me. Some of them were there on duty on the day Dele Giwa died in their hospital. We did a recollection of the traumatic incident. He put a call through to Dele Giwa’s wife, Funmilayo, to let her know I was with him at the First Foundation. She was surprised. She didn’t know I am in the country. We had a good chat on the phone. Again, that chat was as emotional as it can be. And 33 years ago? Meeting Dr Ajayi again for the first time since then? It was truly an emotional return to the man who tried to save Dele Giwa’s life. Thank you for inviting me. It was really kind of you.
