Oshiomhole’s Aide, Laitan Oyerinde, “knew” Of His Death
Kayode Oladele
Laitan’s abrupt death at the hands of the wicked murderers is tragic and heartbreaking. We all wish we could undo what had happened and bring him back because to those of us that knew this very great mind and intellect, the world is a lesser place without Laitan in it. Indeed, the last time we met in Lagos, he told me of his plans to return to the Nigerian Labor Congress after the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State. He said it was only after the elections that the comrade Governor could release him if at all he would approve of his exit plans. It was as if Laitan had the premonition of this sordid act even though, from our discussion, he seemed to be very concerned with what he perceived as a very serious leadership crisis at the secretariat of the NLC at the time.
The level of violence Nigeria continues to witness is alarming and unacceptable. The Country is fast growing into a state where the government cannot even perform the minimum task of a state, being unable to control unruly elements and offer citizens a modicum of security and protection. And because criminals have little or nothing to fear from the state, its elements ignore state power and its machinery; hence, there is a gradual collapse of law and order even as the state has demonstrated helplessness in dealing with the spate of violence. This is a time when efforts should be geared towards ensuring internal security in the country, but we have too many assurances without any security.
I wish I had words that could make our pains at this time less, but I call on the Nigeria Police not to treat Laitan’s murder as yet another case of unsolved murder in Nigeria.
Finally, my thoughts and prayers go to his immediate family as they grieve the loss of their beloved son, husband, father and bread winner.
In sympathy,
