Eldest son of the first military
governor of the former Western region, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Femi,
said he had forgiven those who participated in the assassination of the
father on July 29, 1966.
Fajuyi spoke at an event organised by
the League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State chapter, to mark the 50th
anniversary of the assassination of his father in Ibadan, during a
counter coup. He was killed alongside his visitor, General Agunyi
Ironsi, who was the then military head of state.
Fajuyi said the golden anniversary of
his father’s death had eased the pain and the memories of the loss,
adding that the family had moved on and forgiven his father’s killers.
He said he was still waiting for a forum where he would meet and embrace
Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, whom he described as a major player in the
coup.
“I am a Christian and I know that Gen.
Danjuma is also a Christian. He is my brother in the Lord. Fifty years
have eased the pain of the loss. Fifty years have erased the memories of
the loss and I have forgiven all of them.
“I must acknowledge that as a young
officer himself, he (Danjuma) must probably be acting on the orders of
his superiors. In fact, I keep looking for an opportunity where we could
meet face to face, and where he would hug me as a son. He apologised in
one of his books where he said he regretted the death of Fajuyi who was
not the primary target but ended up being a collateral damage. So, I
have nothing in mind against him or anyone else.”
Fajuyi lamented the present position of
the country, saying that his father would have loved a flourishing
nation with limitless opportunities in all economic sectors.
He said, “My father would have loved to
see a better Nigeria than it is today. Even as a young lad, growing up,
going through the university, getting tutored, we all hoped for a better
Nigeria.
“The problem is with politicians, lack
of institutions and failure to strengthen existing ones. Nigeria should
now be a great nation, but our leaders have failed us. That is why we
must support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to
succeed. I believe he is God-sent and as for all those trying to pull
him down, we all know who they are. They are the ones ruining this
country,” he noted.
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