Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate a thorough investigation into the unresolved killings of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige; journalist, Dele Giwa; and June 12 heroine, Mrs Kudirat Abiola.

Soyinka made the call during an interaction with journalists at the Freedom Park, Lagos, themed, “June 12: Romancing the Embers,” insisting that there were existing clues that could help unravel the circumstances surrounding the high-profile murders.

The Nobel Laureate spoke about 48 hours after Tinubu conferred national honours on 68 heroes of June 12.

He said past investigations into the killings of some notable Nigerians were deliberately stalled by individuals who sabotaged the process.

“The clues are there. Pursue the clues, dust up the files, re-investigate, call back witnesses, find out those who deliberately polluted the line of clues that would have led to certain answers,” Soyinka said.

According to him, earlier promises by previous governments, including that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, to revisit such cases, ended in betrayal.

“Time and time again, we have been betrayed. When Muhammadu Buhari came, he said he would order an investigation into all the unusual deaths both within the military and civilians. And we reminded him, ‘Where are the files? Let us see the results.’

“It is a challenge to the present government to fulfil the pledges made by your predecessor. Pick up those files, and dust them. It is part and parcel of the responsibilities of government. Let us know what happened. Till tomorrow, we don’t know who killed Dele Giwa, or who killed Bola Ige, but there are clues. Those clues exist. During that Bola Ige period, many things went unpublicised.”

Soyinka also recalled that efforts made under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to secure foreign assistance, particularly from the United States, were frustrated.

“We began our pursuit of truth, and I recall a group of us went to the American Embassy. We learnt that America offered help – their detectives, their methods.

“So, we visited the embassy to ensure our Federal Government accepted the help. We needed help, wherever it came from. The Attorney-General of the Federation was murdered in his bedroom on his way to take up a United Nations post. Heaven and earth should be turned upside down until you get to the bottom of that case.

“We went there and said, ‘Don’t listen to this government if they talk about territorial integrity or claim people can’t interfere. Don’t accept it. Offer whatever help you have.’ From that embassy, I picked up the phone and called then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to say, ‘We are here at the embassy. We learnt that help is being offered and we want to ensure it is accepted, for whatever it’s worth.’

“I remember he called up then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun. There was the usual back-and-forth, and we also pursued other clues.”

Reiterating his challenge to Tinubu, Soyinka said, “Bring up those files, dust them up, pursue those clues, re-investigate, call back witnesses. Many of us have lots of clues. Find out those who deliberately polluted the line of clues that would have led us to certain answers.”

On President Tinubu’s recognition of June 12 heroes, Soyinka maintained that the list would always remain incomplete.

He argued that acknowledging and supporting June 12 activists should not be left to the government alone, but was a responsibility for all Nigerians.

“There will always be casualties on June 12, the Civil War. It is the responsibility of the community, of society, to compensate in some way — not necessarily materially. It could be recognition, or assistance here and there.

“You have to accept that responsibility. On the one hand, participants should not expect anything — they should know that there will be casualties. In many cases, there will be no reward of any sort.

“There is no reason, however, why those who participated cannot initiate programmes for those casualties within their reach. Maybe have little gatherings from time to time for those involved — even indirectly — in which they reminisce. This way, we would discover more and more people who are entitled to some kind of restitution or assistance from the rest of the community. For many, healing takes a while. For others, total healing never happens.”

Soyinka, however, noted that some who claimed to be part of the June 12 struggle only did so to advance their political ambitions. He described such individuals as “the real enemies of democracy.”

“June 12 means several things to different people. June 12 did not begin on June 12 and did not terminate on June 12.

“Many people, even when they want to settle political scores today — maybe because of thwarted ambition — try to trivialise June 12 instead of just leaving it alone.

“You didn’t participate, nobody forced you to participate, nobody reduced your humanity. So, you didn’t take part — you’re not concerned. If you see anybody making false claims, you have a responsibility to say, ‘I know about this; it didn’t go this way. And this is the proof.’

“Those who trivialise June 12, simply because of thwarted political ambition, are the real enemies of democracy. June 12 must be sustained through reminders, occasions, gatherings, and civic activities — one strong enough to serve as formal recognition of individuals.”

Soyinka also commended Tinubu for what he described as a “clever” linking of this year’s national honours to the June 12 legacy.

“I must say the honours were cleverly tied to June 12. So, we have for the first time, perhaps, in this country, what I would call a thematic honours list. For me, I find nothing wrong with that.

“Perhaps, to some extent, it could even become a tradition — a thematic honours list — so that each time we call the list, we can identify under what kind of political or scientific context it was compiled.”

On the recently released memoir by former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), Soyinka challenged him to name those who backed the decision to annul the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He described Babangida’s account as incomplete, insisting the former Head of State owed Nigerians the full truth.

“There were traditional rulers, people both in the military and civil society who influenced IBB not to announce MKO Abiola as the winner of the election. He should make their identities public in another publication.”

Soyinka, who earlier this year released his own memoir, A Journey in Service, where he recounted his version of the June 12 saga, said he personally reached out to Babangida on the issue.

“I called him and told him that his memoir isn’t finished. Isn’t it about time we named names?

“Babangida’s book should be read side by side with Omo Omoruyi’s. Omoruyi was there. That way, everybody can judge how credible one version is over the other.

“In addition to Omoruyi’s book, I know that one moment which I want us all to see as absolutely factual is that Babangida was a general without an army. That is a tragic comment to make.

“We know certain moves he made. We know those who visited him at the time and added their weight to the annulment — both military and civilian. We know the royal fathers who told him they would not accept the implementation of the result.