Slain corps members: Yuguda under fire over comment

Denunciation and condemnation on Saturday trailed the comments attributed to the governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isah Yuguda, that the National Youth Service Corps members who were murdered instate were destined to die the way they did. Some corps members were killed in the state as well as in some other northern states shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the incumbent President and Peoples Democratic Party standard-bearer, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, winner of the April 16 presidential poll. Specifically, nine corps members were reportedly killed in Bauchi State. Property worth millions of Naira were also destroyed in the post-election violence in which the irate youths were protesting the defeat of the Congress for Progressive Change standard-bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) by Jonathan. Jonathan polled over 21million votes to beat other contenders comprising Buhari, the All Nigeria Peoples Party standard-bearer, Ibrahim Shekarau, and his Action Congress of Nigeria counterpart, Nuhu Ribadu. However, speaking to our correspondents on Saturday, some eminent Nigerians among them the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Gen, Ibrahim Haruna; former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; former governor of old Anambra State; Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and spokesperson to the Congress for Progressive Change Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said Yaguda’s comments were condemnable. Haruna who spoke to one of our correspondents on Friday described the reports attributed to the governor as disappointing. Haruna said there was no justification for the slaughter of young Nigerians because of politics. He said it was inconceivable for anybody with human feelings to make such a comment on the gruesome killing of young innocent Nigerian graduates in the service of their fatherland. To him, what was expected of Yuguda was for him to join other Nigerians to eulogise them as heroes and to name structures after them to alleviate the pangs of their loss. He called on the Federal Government to exploit the instrumentality of the law to ensure effective maintenance of peace and security. He said that it was grim for such young men to be killed because of politics because the country was not in a state of war. He added, “I am saddened by what he said. Is there any justification for any young, hopeful Nigerian to be killed because of politics? Akinjide, who described the governor’s comment as unwarranted, opined that a leader must be discreet at all times in handling issues that affected lives. He said, “It is sad that the governor of a state should treat human life with levity. “Was it not in Bauchi that a teacher was murdered because one of the students was alleged to cover up something? That lady came from the South. She was not the person who used the Quran to wrap something. “A governor, as the chief security officer of the state, is expected to be a role model and should uphold the rule of law and promote peace and harmony in his state. Human life is too sacred to be toiled with.” The former Attorney General explained that even the Commissioner of Police in the state was responsible to the governor and as such should be taking orders from him. He said that explained why in every state the governor is the chairman of the Security Council while the CP is only a member together with the Attorney-General. Similarly, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav, said the statement attributed to Yuguda was most unfortunate and unbecoming of somebody in his position as a governor of a state where such killings took place. He said that Yuguda should have at least shown sympathy to the corps members, their families and indeed the country. Tsav said, “It is most unfortunate, this is unexpected of somebody in the position of a governor. He should have shown sympathy with the corps members, their families and Nigeria.” Musa simply summarised his opinion by saying, “I think it is being insensitive and quite undiplomatic.” Odumakin, who strongly condemned the governor’s assertion, said, “What Governor Yuguda said further confirmed that Nigeria is a nation founded on iniquity, sustained by hypocrisy and is on a balance of uneven scale. That is why today we talk about peace and nobody is talking about justice. Even if he was truly attacked in Ibadan in 1979 as he claimed, is that enough to justify the killing of corps members in his state? General Muhammadu Buhari did not make such inciting comment but went on air to discourage the people from causing violence. That is the prize of leadership.” However, Ezeife contended that the governor’s statement depended on how each individual viewed it. He said that some people believe in destiny and stretch the belief to the limit because of the doctrine of their religion. “You have to be careful not to expect so much from such people,” he said adding that the governor’s statement was not provocative. Yuguda had said while speaking with journalists in Bauchi on Thursday that the corps members who got killed in the state were not the only victims of the unfortunate violence that followed the presidential election. He recalled to the shock of journalists that his son was almost lynched while his house was torched. “They (corps members) were destined to experience what they experienced. Nobody can run away from destiny. When they were serving me, they were the happiest in Nigeria. “Immediately I handed them over to INEC, it was the responsibility of INEC to protect them. They were not the only ones affected. My own house was burnt; they almost lynched my first son. It is part of their destiny. I was also attacked as a corps member in Ibadan in 1979. “They were attacked on the services of INEC,” he was quoted as having said. Also, a former Security Advisor to Rivers State Government, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, condemned the statement. He stated that Yuguda had failed the nation by issuing inciting statements. Meanwhile, in a statement titled ‘PUNCH goofed as Yuguda was misquoted’ made available to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, Bauchi State government said the governor was not quoted correctly. The statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Sanusi Muhammad, quoted the governor as saying during the media briefing that “The death of the corp members was purely an act of destiny. As human beings we should always accept our destiny either in our favour or against our interest. The unfortunate death of the corp members was destined to happen in the course of their service to Nigeria. Every new day is a new experience to all living souls which we must contend. “After the unfortunate attack on the corp members that led to the untimely death of some in some remote areas of the state on receiving the report, I swiftly acted and made sure that those evacuated are camped at the Senior Staff Development Centre of Directorate of State Security Service in Bauchi metropolis were comfortable and well protected. I paid several visits to the camp to boost their morale and comfort them. Each of them was given a token amount to take care of their immediate needs while in the camp. I have vowed to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book as several arrests have already been made. “At a time when all efforts are being made to ensure return to normalcy and the need to rebuild frontiers of harmonious relationship and friendship, we urge the media not to play with the destiny of the country through sensationalism and outright mischief.” By FIDELIS SORIWEI, ADELANI ADEPEGBA, and AKINWALE ABOLUWADE