TWENTY security guards were yesterday arrested by police detectives over the murder of prominent Lagos politician, Chief Olufunso Williams, whose remains are to be interred today.
The guards are working within the Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, where Williams lived and was murdered on July 27. They were yesterday taken to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon.
. The fresh arrests has brought to 82 the number of suspects currently in detention over the murder case.
At a Christian wake in honour of the deceased, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday declared that the murder should be seen as a unifying factor in the nation to strengthen democracy.
The wake was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos. In his sermon at the event, Rev Fr. Dominic Okure of the St. Dominic’s Church, Yaba, Lagos, expressed concern over the increasing disregard for human lives in the country.
In attendance were Chief Olabode George, who represented President Obasanjo; Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd), Chief Walter Ofonagoro, Senator Ben Obi, Chief Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor, former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.
It was all praises from various speakers who took turns to deliver tributes on the deceased. They all wore long faces. The choir of the St. Dominic’s Church rendered several sombre songs.
In his deeply emotional sermon, Okure charged Nigerians not to regard politics as a do-or-die affair, describing the gruesome murder as a demonstration that Nigerians were yet to understand the value of human lives.
He said: “People are so hungry for power, wealth and influence that they can go to any length to achieve it without regard to the will of God. Funso Williams was a gift to Nigerians despite the short life he spent in the this world.”
The cleric continued: “Even though the people of this country seem to be religious, their hearts are still far from God.”
And noting that God has great love for Nigeria, he prayed: ” May the shedding of Williams’ blood bring healing to this nation.”
In his tribute, delivered by Chief George, Obasanjo described the murder as barbaric and charged Nigerians to see his death as a unifying factor.
He noted that the deceased’s defection from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) changed the fortunes of the latter political party. The late Williams was said to have had great positive impact on the lives of the PDP members.
Describing the deceased as gentle, amiable, tolerant and humane, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to “rededicate themselves to the ideals of which late Funso Williams lived and died for and the lesson his brief life teaches.”
He prayed: “May his passing away challenge us in standing together as one Nigeria by strengthening our democracy and the regeneration of our dear country.”
Mr. Femi Adeniyi Williams, the elder brother of the deceased, gave a vote of thanks. He said that the love, concern and regard displayed by Nigerians since the murder would go a long way in relieving the grief. He added that the murder had further strengthened the faith of the family in the Lord.
Meanwhile, the body will lie in state today also at the Tafawa Balewa Square between 8. 30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. It will be taken later to the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki Phase 1 and thereafter be interred at the Victoria Court Cemetery, Lekki/Epe Expressway.
And, with indications that top members of the deceased’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will attend the burial, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered tight security.
He ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Adedayo Adeoye, to deploy more mobile policemen from his zone, which comprises Ogun and Lagos to beef-up security.
The security fear follows report that some supporters of the late Williams might protest his death in some parts of the metropolis today. Already, about 10,000 policemen have been deployed to guard the burial ceremony.