Alamieyeseigha’s son: Jonathan values some Nigerians over others – Keyamo

Eromosele Ebhomele

Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo has taken a swipe at the Nigerian government over the swiftness with which it called on the authorities of the United Arab Emirate, UAE, to fish out those responsible for the death of Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha, son of former governor of Bayelsa, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha.

Keyamo said the Federal Government acted in such a way that it becomes glaring that it values some citizens more than others since it had often been silent on cases like this at other times.

Oyamuyefa was found dead in controversial circumstances in his father’s house in Dubai on Tuesday and minutes after, the government released a statement condemning the act and calling for action against his killers.

Keyamo, in a statement on Wednesday, said though he also condemns the alleged killing of the Nigerian, the government had played double standard by its response to the incident.

He recalled the killing of Toba (Tyler) Falode, the son of Aisha Falode and how the government had remained silent over it leaving the family of the deceased to their fate.

The statement read: “we note the swiftness with which the Federal Government responded to this sad and painful news with a call on the UAE authorities to fish out the killers of Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha.

“However, whilst this action of the Federal Government is commendable, it smacks of double standards. Recall that on 15th of February, 2014, Toba (Tyler) Falode was also murdered in hazy circumstances in Dubai.

“Recall also that the mother, Aisha Falode took it upon herself to carry out some discreet investigation into those circumstances and has since been crying out for justice for her son.

“Up till this minute, the Federal Government has not issued a single statement calling on the UAE authorities to fish out the killers of Toba Falode.

“The Federal Government has played the ostrich in the case of Toba, leaving the mother and family grieving alone.

“The question is, with the swift response in the case of Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha, does the Federal Government value the lives of some of its citizens more than others?”

The statement said more importantly, “it must be said that it is the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government towards the earlier cases of Nigerians murdered abroad like the case of Toba that has emboldened foreigners in foreign lands to snuff the lives out of Nigerians without any qualms,” adding that if the Federal Government had shown more interest in the case of Toba, the life of Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha would have been saved.

“It is important to note that we have written statements of witnesses who confirmed that the killer of Toba Falode confessed to the crime, and these statements have since been forwarded to the UAE Government, but it is such a shame that nothing has been heard or done eight months after.

“We hope this is a bitter lesson to the Federal Government and we hereby re-iterate our call on the Federal Government to show more interest in the quest to find the killers of Toba Falode and bring them to justice,” the statement said.