Exactly 50 years after, the eldest and surviving son of the late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, Femi Fajuyi said he has forgiven all those who participated in the gruesome murder of his father.
The late Fajuyi, the first military governor of western region, was killed alongside his visitor, General Aguiyi Ironsi in Lalupon, Ibadan in a counter coup.
Speaking with reporters during a lecture to mark the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of what was described as the martyrdom of his father, Femi said the 50 years has eased the pain of the lost as well as erased the memories of the loss.
The lecture was titled, ‘Adekunle Fajuyi’s 50 years of Martyrdom: Lessons and reflections on leadership and the value of life in our times.’
The event, which also marked the 90th post humous birthday of the deceased, was organised by the League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo state Chapter.
Acknowledging that the perpetrators would have acted on the orders of the military superiors at the time, Femi, a lawyer, noted that he keeps looking for a forum where he and General Theophillus Danjuma would meet face to face and hug each other as father and son.
Fajuyi said, “I am a christian and I know that General Danjuma is a christian as well; he is my brother-in-the Lord! 50 years has eased the pain of the lost and memories of the loss and I have forgiven all of them.
“I must acknowledge that as a young officer himself, he must probably be acting on orders of his own superiors. Infact, I keep looking for a fora where we could meet one-on-one, where he would hug me as a son.
“He has apologised in one of his books where he said he regrets the death of Fajuyi. Fajuyi was not the primary target but ended up as a collateral damage. So, I have nothing in mind against him or anyone else.”
When asked if the death of his father is justified by the present situation of Nigeria, the head of the Fajuyi’s family lamented that his father would have loved to see a better Nigeria than it is today.
He fingered the politicians, lack of institutions, and lack of support for existing systems in the country as the major obstacle hindering the progress of the nation.
He however called for the support of the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the current helmsman is god-sent to the nation.
On his part, the head of department, Political Science, University of Ibadan, Professor, Osisioma Nwolise, said that the only dividing factor in Nigeria is injustice, not religion, tribe, gender or any other thing anybody could claim.
According to Nwolise, enlisting in the army, signing off his life in defence of his fatherland against external aggression, coupled with the decision to volunteer to be killed along with his guest, who happened to be his Commander-in-Chief, qualifies the late Fajuyi for double martyrdom.
In his reflections, the Don said, “one of the very important lessons from the issues at hand is that the military should permanently stay away from the terrain of Nigerian government and politics, and keep to their professional and constitutional duties.
He urged the President Buhari-led administration to institutionalise the anti-corruption war by giving it a strategy, establishing necessary laws and establishing an effective anti-corruption tribunal, and then focus on the real task of governance especially growing the economy
