On that tragic Sunday of October 19, 1986, Mr Olusegun Fasoro, then a 27-year-old, made it to the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Newswatch, Mr Dele Giwa’s residence in Ikeja shortly after Giwa had been letterbombed in his study. In this interview with TheTabloid.net, Fashoro reveals his relationship with Giwa, MKO Abiola and all editors of the Newswatch. Excerpts
Which part of Lagos were you living till October 19, 1986 when news of Dele Giwa’s shocking death broke?
At that time, I was living at Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos State. I was working as an interior designer with Swenig Furniture Co.Ladipo, Mushin off Apapa Oshodi Express way. We furnished MKO Abiola, Dele Giwa’s offices at Concord Press. Dele Giwa later, alongside Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed, Dan Agbese formed the Newswatch magazine which was very popular from its first edition in February 1984.
How did you make it to Giwa’s residence at Talabi Street, Ikeja.
On this fateful day, the news broke that Dele had been killed through a letter bomb. It was a strange incident. It was like people didn’t know what letter bomb meant or how it looked like. It was the first time such device was used to kill any person. I am not sure I have heard of it again after that of Dele Giwa. It was on a Sunday.
Why did you decide to visit the scene despite the scary nature of the incident?
Honestly, I was just trying to be inquisitive. I rushed to Ikeja to see things by myself perhaps because of today.
What did you see at the house?
On getting to Number 9 Talabi Street, Ikeja, there were many people also at the scene watching the house which window were shattered by the blast. Mr Kayode Soyinka, London correspondent of Newswatch was in the house. Dele Giwa’s son, Billy was also in the house. We later learnt that it was the son, Billy that took the parcel to his father. However, I didn’t stay long there as people were despersed from the scene by the policemen deployed to the area.
Did you see Dele Giwa’s body before it was taken to the hospital?
They had evacuated the body out of the house before I got there. So, I didn’t see Dele Giwa’s body. We only watched from outside the house.
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