The unresolved assassination of former Lagos State governorship hopeful, Engr. Funsho Williams, has returned to the centre of national political discourse, with the Obidient Movement urging the Federal Government to reopen the 20-year-old murder investigation, saying Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the lessons of its violent political past.
The statement which was signed by the Media and Communications Directorate of the Obidient Movement linked its demand to recent comments by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, who reportedly expressed fears about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
It warned that such concerns from a leading opposition figure should trigger serious reflection by the government and security agencies.
The statement issued on Sunday argued that Nigeria’s democracy remains vulnerable as long as politically sensitive killings remain unresolved, insisting that justice must not become a casualty of time or political influence.
It said the continued failure to unravel the circumstances surrounding Williams’ murder has created an atmosphere in which speculation flourishes and public confidence in the criminal justice system continues to diminish.
“The nation cannot continue to treat unresolved political assassinations as forgotten history,” the movement said, adding that every unsolved high-profile killing sends the wrong message about accountability in a democratic society.
The Obidient Movement challenged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to justice by directing the Inspector-General of Police to reopen the investigation and exhaust every available forensic and intelligence resource to identify those responsible.
According to the group, the demand is not intended to revive political controversy but to reinforce the principle that no murder, regardless of when it occurred or whose interests may be affected, should remain permanently beyond the reach of justice.
It maintained that Obi’s reported concerns over his safety have heightened the urgency of confronting Nigeria’s history of political violence before another generation of leaders is forced to campaign under the shadow of fear.
The movement further called on security agencies to guarantee the safety of all political actors ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that democracy can only flourish where electoral contests are decided by the ballot and not by intimidation, violence or the fear of violence.
It added that reopening the Funsho Williams investigation would send a powerful signal that Nigeria is finally prepared to confront one of its most enduring symbols of political impunity and reaffirm that justice remains possible, no matter how much time has passed.
