…warns politicians against exploiting national tragedy
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers as an assault on the nation’s collective humanity.
Akpabio stated this in his welcome remarks as the Senate resumed plenary after the Easter and Sallah recess on Tuesday, adding that Nigeria would remain burdened by the tragedy in Oyo State for as long as the abducted schoolchildren and teachers remained in captivity.
He said, “As we resume our work under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken our nation, the abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo State, this is not merely an attack on innocent citizens. It is an assault on our collective humanity.
“We mourn because if we cannot protect our children, we are imperiling our future. We mourn because a nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its teachers weakens the very foundation upon which education rests. As we mourn because for as long as those children remain in captivity, our nation remains captive with them.”
The Senate President lamented the deaths recorded during the incident, saying, “today we grieve the loss of two children, two educated educators, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who died in captivity, and Mr. Adesha Adeboe, who lost his life during the attack. We also mourn the child whose life was cut short before its promise could be fulfilled.
“We share the pain of the family. It is our collective loss is our loss, their pain is our pain.”
He expressed confidence that security agencies were working towards rescuing those still being held and reuniting them with their families.
According to him, security operatives were being cautious in their approach to avoid jeopardising the lives of the captives. “If you move in there to wipe out the terrorists you may end up wiping out the children and so it might take a while to distinguish the shaft from the grains,” he explained.
Akpabio also cautioned politicians against exploiting security challenges and national tragedies for political gain.
“There is always a temptation to divide, to accuse and to seek advantage from tragedy. Politicians must resist the temptation of cheap publicity,” he said.
“Those who kidnap our children, terrorise our communities and murder innocent citizens do not distinguish between party, faith or ethnic group affiliation. The assault is directed against Nigeria itself. Therefore, our response must be equal to the challenge.”
He called on Nigerians and lawmakers to support efforts aimed at strengthening security and protecting schools and communities across the country.
“We must stand united, we must stand firm and we must be resolute in finding solutions together. Let us support every lawful measure to strengthen security, protect our schools, protect our communities and ensure that every bandit faces the full weight of the law,” he said.
The Senate thereafter observed a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in the attack and prayed for the repose of their souls.
Akpabio also directed the Senate leadership to fast-track arrangements for a national security summit earlier proposed by the upper chamber.
“I want to implore the Leader of the Senate to quickly fix a date for us to conclude our security summit. We must now have that security summit with a view to submitting our own resolutions and what we think we can do to further strengthen the efforts of the security services,” he said.