Who Killed AVM Alex Badeh?

The sad and brutal assasination of the former Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh, in the dying hours of President Buhari’s birthday, is a despicable and cowardly act.

Not only was he an officer and a gentleman but he was also a profoundly good man who was criminalised, humiliated and treated in a malicious and unacceptable manner by a vicious, malevolent and evil government that had targetted him for villification and destruction right from the start.

Despite the fact that he was subjected to a well-orchestrated and relentless degree of persecution from the Buhari administration, he remained a believer in Nigeria and a heroic, courageous and unrelenting critic of tyranny, injustice and ethnic and religious subjugation till the end.

He knew many of the Buhari government’s excesses and secrets, he worked quietly against them from behind the scenes and, by his numerous actions and interventions, he saved the lives of many of his Middle Belt people.

Those that were behind his assasination know who they are. They shall not escape justice and they will pay a terrible price for their wickedness. His assasination is a debt that will be repaid by God and the people no matter how long it takes.

In the fullness of time the Lord of Hosts and the Ancient of Days, in whose bosom he now resides, will avenge him.

These are still early days and the investigation is yet to commence but I do not accept the suggestion that some have already made that his murder was a random and isolated act. That is just too convenient a conclusion to come to and it seeks to cover the tracks of the masterninds of this heinous and ungodly crime. In any case many questions need to be answered.

For example how come a former Chief of Defence Staff and a former Chief of Air Staff did not have any military personnel or security details guarding and protecting him? This is especially so given the fact that it appears that he was on a long distance drive on a road which has has proved to be dangerous in the early hours of the evening.

Badeh was entitled to that level of protection by virtue of his position as a former Chief of Defence Staff. How come he was denied it? Who withdrew his men? Who wanted him to be alone with just his driver on that journey? Who wanted him dead?

There are many other questions which we shall ask at the appropiate time. And one day we shall get the answers.

Meanwhile I add my voice to those who have called for an independent and public commission of enquiry into this courageous and noble soul’s brutal assasination.

With his murder it is clear that, under Buhari, ours is a nation of not just ethnic and religious cleansing but also a nation of political cleansing.

Adamawa state, the Middle Belt, Christendom and indeed the whole of Nigeria has lost a great and compassionate patriot who, though maligned, demonised and misrepresented by his numerous and powerful detractors, still had so much to offer our nation. May his beautiful and precious soul rest in peace.

Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following aside. Given this sad event, if anyone still believes that President Buhari will conduct a free and fair election and, after losing, hand over power quietly and go back to Daura without a fight next year, that person is gravely mistaken and painfully naive.

Those that believe this have still not fully understood the nature of the beast that we are dealing with. You see it is not about Buhari alone but about who and what he represents. And those that he represents are not ready to relinquish power and lose all the ground that they have regained over the last three years and six months.

Always remember this: it is an ancient agenda and it is as real today as it was 58 years ago when we won our independence from the British.

The cabal is very much in control, the game is on and the next few months will be a rough ride. Yet God is still on the throne: all power belongs to Him, He alone rules in the affairs of men, He forges the destiny of nations and His counsel shall stand. Fasten your seat belts and let us see what will unfold.

**Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

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Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler