Buhari’s endorsement of Bola Ige’s prime murder suspect, Omisore as APC secretary discredits probe – Soyinka

Prof. Wole Soyinka says President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement and appointment of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) casts doubt on the investigation into the murder of late Justice Minister, Bola Ige.

President Buhari had earlier ordered the reopening of all high profile murder cases, including that of Ige who was killed December 23, 2001.

In a statement on Saturday, Soyinka decried the situation where Omisore who was the prime suspect then now enjoys the support of the president as the ruling party’s national secretary.

He said with Omisore’s emergence, any probe into the Bola Ige murder lacks credibility.

“Buhari ordered the Inspector-General of Police to re-open those files and resume investigations.  The nation has patiently awaited even a hint of Work in Progress. Most, I am certain, expect no less than a revaluation of prior investigative efforts. None, to my knowledge, has attempted to rush the Chief of Police and his team into judgment.  We all take solace in the knowledge that the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they arrive.  Eventually.

“However, an unusual turn of events has raised questions. The ruling party, headed by the same President, has just elected as its National Secretary one of the prime suspects of this most notorious of the nation’s unsolved murders. Not for a moment does one suggest that mere accusation, even trial, presumes Guilt. More than mere verdict is involved in any trial however. The process of arriving at that ultimate destination – justice – is integral to the very concept of democracy and equality under the law. That process is one of the structures of civic education.

“With the emergence of the said prime suspect as National Secretary of the Ruling Party, is the Inspector-General of Police equipped to confront political obstacles in a resumption of investigation? Is there any guarantee that the result will see the light of day? How suspect, ab initio, will be the conclusions, given the present political ordering?

“I repeat: we are speaking of blatant, undeniable exercise of POLITICAL interventions during investigations and the arraignment of suspects. Prior incumbency of the position of National Secretary of a ruling party has demonstrated the potent interventionist clout that can be wielded from that office. The president has personally received, and thus anointed the new incumbent. Since he remains central to any re-investigation – whatever form or direction it takes – just what value of objective assessment can be placed on the presidential pledge? 

“To this layman, that investigative revisit is already hamstrung and disrobed of credibility. I think the nation should simply relieve President Buhari of his pledge. I am certain the Inspector-General of Police will be equally relieved and can now turn his mind and energy to the national accustomed posture – Business as Usual,” Soyinka said.