It took the intervention of the wife of Olaitan to persuade Members of The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) to control their anger at Government and security agents for their alleged shoddy provision of security in the country.
The Governor of the State of Osun ,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in an elegy rendered on his behalf by the Head of Service of Osun State, Elder Segun Akinwusi, at the State funeral service in Olaitans’honour described the life of the deceased as one free of limiting prejudices that often hamstring many Nigerians from rendering service to the people who are not of their tribe.
Aregbesola noted that the deceased was indeed a truly detribalized Nigerian and a Pan-Africanist to the core, hence that led him to accept the offer to serve in Edo State.
He stressed that Olaitan enlisted freely in any cause that would improve the lives of those around him, deriving great joy from being instrumental to the progress and success of others.
“He was indeed a truly detribalised Nigerian and a Pan-Africanist to the core. That was what led him to accept the offer to serve in Edo state. He gave himself richly to the work. He enthusiastically did the work. He contributed meaningfully to the development now being witnessed in the state. Could that be why his abominable killers deprived him of his life?” The Governor enthused.
Also at the occasion, the Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole described Olaitan as a dogged fighter who stood against military rule and the enthronement of democracy, saying though he may hail from the state of Osun; but he remains an Edo fighter.
“It is impossible to kill the spirit, but only the flesh, when I heard of the death of the murder of Olaitan, I knew they are killing my people to weaken me, but they will not succeed in killing my spirit. Our commitment to building Nigeria and the fight for one man one vote in a democracy that cannot be extinguished by the bullets of cowards who uses power to intimidate the masses. If we succeed in fighting them, the spirit of Olaitan will be alive’ The Edo state governor told the gathering.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Waheed Omar,in his tribute said the deceased is one of dependable ally who was not just an appointee in Edo state, the Deputy General Secretary of NLC.
The NLC president gave the Nigeria police and all other security agents an Ultimatum of two weeks to fish out the yet-to-be identified killer of Olaitan or face the wrath of the Nigerian masses, saying that he is of the assurance that the killing of Olaitan was politically motivated.
In his own tribute, Comrade Femi Falana, chided security agents and Government for not standing up to their responsibility of ensuring the security of its citizens, describing the threat of Senator Iyiola Omisore to attack the convoy of Aregbesola as a serious case which should not be treated with kid-glove.
“Olaitan is a pan African of exceptional qualities, who chose a path of justice and progress of his country, the killing of Olaitan has shown that everybody is no longer save as the spate of insecurity is on the rise, the situation can be likened to that of Banana Republic, the recent treat of Omisore should not be taken lightly is you look at the way Chief Bola Ige was killed after the episode of his cap removal at the Palace of the Oni of Ife.” The lawyer lamented.
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