Stop The Killings

The inability of the present administration to seriously address the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians throughout the country by armed thugs seriously calls for concern.

It is particularly worrisome because the country is gradually sliding into the Hobbesian nature of might is right and where life is brutish and short.

The brutal killing of Mr. Charles Ayede, Special Media Adviser to the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in Benue State, Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah on 13 May by unidentified gunmen is another instance of the insecurity of lives and property in the country and the widely held belief that the country’s leadership appears helpless in tackling the situation.

Ayede was shot dead when gunmen attacked the convoy of Prof. Ugbah between Abuja and Makurdi. His death is coming on the heels of the killing of 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in some Northern states shortly after the presidential election.

The inability of the present administration to stem political assassinations is portraying it as weak and inept.

President Goodluck Jonathan should not give the impression that he is incapable of stopping these killings. Already there is this feeling among the populace that the president does not have the guts to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book.

Shortly before the April elections, many Nigerians were killed by outlaws who tried all they could to prevent the elections from taking place. Explosives were detonated in Abuja, Minna, Port Harcourt, Jos and Kaduna resulting in the death of innocent Nigerians. In fact, on the eve of the aborted National Assembly election scheduled for Saturday 2 April, there was an explosion in Kaduna during which a man was killed.

After the elections, hundreds were also killed in the post election riots which rocked Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger and Jos. It is gratifying to note that the president has set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the killings and bring the culprits to book. It is our hope that the panel will discharge its responsibility in this respect and ensure that justice is done.

The fight against political assassinations should be waged with all the seriousness it deserves. The president should as a matter of priority task the security agencies to do everything possible to fish out those responsible for the murder of Ayede. This is necessary to allay the fears of the populace that the government is indifferent to these assassinations. Bringing the culprits to book will also serve as a detterent to others who might be inclined to political assassinations as a means to settle scores.

The administration should also embark on political enlightenment to educate political office holders on the need to exercise restraint in their quest for political offices. Like we have constantly maintained, holding a political office should not be a do or die affair. And like the president stated during his electioneering campaign, no political office is worth the blood of innocent Nigerians.

Politicians must play the game by the rules and learn to accept defeat with grace.Enough of politically-motivated killings.