Chief Olabode George
A member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, Maxwell Ado has reacted to the call by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George to President Muhammadu Buhari to reopen investigation into the death of Funso Williams who died nearly a decade and half ago under the administration of the PDP.
Ado said the call to APC administration by George after three PDP administrations failed to do the needful attests that Buhari’s government is gradually meeting the aspiratirations of the people adding that the call is indicative of vote of confidence on Buhari’s political will to improve the society for the good of everyone.
He wondered why George was silent to demand for the investigation during the two successive PDP administrations after Obasanjo’s government, and said that Buhari’s reopening of Bola Ige’s assassination which also took place under Obasanjo’s administration shows the government is actually working.
George, on Monday called on President Buhari to reopen investigation into the death of Funsho Williams, who was murdered under controversial circumstances on July 27, 2006 during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Williams was governorship candidate of the PDP in 2003 and was warming up for the 2007 gubernatorial election when he was murdered.
In a statement, George said it has been 14 years since the incident occurred, wondering why the killers are yet to be brought to book by all the previous administrations.
The PDP chieftain said Buhari has done the right thing by reopening investigation into the death of Bola Ige, former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.
He urged the president to do the same by ordering an investigation into William’s death.
“It has been 14 years now when a terrible dark cloud fell upon the Lagosian entity and upon all lovers of freedom. It was really a very sad day on that horrific July 27, 2006, as the blood-soaked body of Engineer Funsho Williams was discovered in his Dolphin residence in Ikoyi.
“With the murder of Funsho Williams, who stood at the threshold of triumphing at the general election, a great dream was shattered. The hopes of millions of Lagosians who were hearkening to be rescued from what was then building up as a gradual servitude of the Lagosian natives was dashed.
“I am particularly passionate about Funsho who many of his acolytes adorably called captain. Funsho was my junior at the University of Lagos. We were both Engineering students but sprung from different departments. While he was in Civil Engineering, I was in the Electrical Engineering Department.
“Those who killed Funsho Williams might have killed a man but not his dream of rescuing and salvaging our society. We continue where he stopped.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to re-open the investigation of the brutal murder of Funsho Williams. The President has done the right thing by re-opening the investigation of the murder of Chief Bola Ige.
“He will be greatly enhanced in historical reckoning and signification if his administration is attested as being the one that finally nailed the evil characters hiding in plain sight who murdered Funsho Williams.”
In 2014, a Lagos high court discharged and acquitted six persons arrested and prosecuted for the murder of Williams.
The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the suspects.