afaukwu
Dec 31, 2008, 03:02 PM
Our unity is under threat, says father of slain NYSC member
By Akin Oyedele, Ibadan
Published: Wednesday, 31 Dec 2008
Octogenarian father of Oluwaleke, one of the three National Youth Service Corps members slain in the Jos riot, Mr. Josiah Akande, has said the incident poses a major threat to the touted unity of the country.
In a voice laden with emotions, he called on President Umaru Yar’Adua, traditional rulers and leaders of thought to re-examine the workability of the said unity.
The elder Akande spoke during a condolence visit to the family in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Director-General, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Bomoi, over the murder.
Oluwaleke, who graduated from the School of Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan was among the over 300 victims of the Jos crisis that was ostensibly triggered by a dispute over the election into the Jos North Local Government Area.
Emphasising the need for the safety of the country’s youths to be guaranteed wherever they found themselves, he stated that the country was doomed without them.
Akande said, “I leave all to God. How do we ensure the safety of all these young men and women endowed with good potential? We have to do something about it. There should never be any repetition of this kind of carnage; this kind of brutality.
“It does not paint Nigeria well in the outside world and within ourselves Nigerians. And we are calling ourselves one entity. Is this the way to ensure the one entity of Nigeria?
“Please deliver the message to Mr. President that we pray that his tenure will be peaceful. That he will have a successful tenure in office, but not this carnage and this kind of brutality.
“The soul of a man cannot be bought with money, you (Bomoi) said that before. As a parent, put yourself in my position, with my age. Think seriously about it. This kind of thing should never happen again in Nigeria.
“Our Chiefs, our Emirs and our Obas should sit down together and know exactly where they are going. If this kind of thing continues, I don’t know what will be the fate of Nigeria.”
Josiah, who is the elder brother of a politician, Chief Harry Akande, urged the DG to visit the All Nigeria Peoples Party stalwart and extend a similar condolence to him.
With Bomoi during the visit were the Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Ayoola Makanjuola; NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Bosede Aderibigbe; and his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Peter Atilola.
Describing the slain corps members as heroes, the DG said that the management of the service would immortalise them in due course.
He said, “The essence of the NYSC is to foster national unity. It is a sad thing that they have to die the way they died. We know that everybody will die one day, but in their own case, it is particularly painful.
“These were young men sent to Plateau State to serve the country. It is something those of us in the NYSC will never forget. We want to assure you that you are not alone in this thing. You are aware that the whole nation has been mourning their death.
“Those of us in the NYSC probably feel the pain of their death more than any other person, probably apart from you in the Akande family.
“This is because it is our moral and professional responsibilities to cater for the welfare of the corps members. I want to assure you that the management of the NYSC will do everything humanly possible to immortalise these distinguished corps members.
“For everybody that worships God and believes in God, one thing that is clear is that all of us will die one day. We believe that it was destined that they will die that day. The place and circumstance by which people will die is only known to God almighty.
“These were young men that were trained and properly brought up. What happened is beyond the imagination of all of us that are mortals. I want to appeal to you to take solace in the fact that they died as heroes.”
Following the request by the family, Bomoi directed that the late Leke’s younger brother, who was a corps member in Osun State, should be redeployed to Ibadan, especially because of the anguish of the parents over the murder of his elder brother.
By Akin Oyedele, Ibadan
Published: Wednesday, 31 Dec 2008
Octogenarian father of Oluwaleke, one of the three National Youth Service Corps members slain in the Jos riot, Mr. Josiah Akande, has said the incident poses a major threat to the touted unity of the country.
In a voice laden with emotions, he called on President Umaru Yar’Adua, traditional rulers and leaders of thought to re-examine the workability of the said unity.
The elder Akande spoke during a condolence visit to the family in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Director-General, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Bomoi, over the murder.
Oluwaleke, who graduated from the School of Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan was among the over 300 victims of the Jos crisis that was ostensibly triggered by a dispute over the election into the Jos North Local Government Area.
Emphasising the need for the safety of the country’s youths to be guaranteed wherever they found themselves, he stated that the country was doomed without them.
Akande said, “I leave all to God. How do we ensure the safety of all these young men and women endowed with good potential? We have to do something about it. There should never be any repetition of this kind of carnage; this kind of brutality.
“It does not paint Nigeria well in the outside world and within ourselves Nigerians. And we are calling ourselves one entity. Is this the way to ensure the one entity of Nigeria?
“Please deliver the message to Mr. President that we pray that his tenure will be peaceful. That he will have a successful tenure in office, but not this carnage and this kind of brutality.
“The soul of a man cannot be bought with money, you (Bomoi) said that before. As a parent, put yourself in my position, with my age. Think seriously about it. This kind of thing should never happen again in Nigeria.
“Our Chiefs, our Emirs and our Obas should sit down together and know exactly where they are going. If this kind of thing continues, I don’t know what will be the fate of Nigeria.”
Josiah, who is the elder brother of a politician, Chief Harry Akande, urged the DG to visit the All Nigeria Peoples Party stalwart and extend a similar condolence to him.
With Bomoi during the visit were the Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Ayoola Makanjuola; NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Bosede Aderibigbe; and his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Peter Atilola.
Describing the slain corps members as heroes, the DG said that the management of the service would immortalise them in due course.
He said, “The essence of the NYSC is to foster national unity. It is a sad thing that they have to die the way they died. We know that everybody will die one day, but in their own case, it is particularly painful.
“These were young men sent to Plateau State to serve the country. It is something those of us in the NYSC will never forget. We want to assure you that you are not alone in this thing. You are aware that the whole nation has been mourning their death.
“Those of us in the NYSC probably feel the pain of their death more than any other person, probably apart from you in the Akande family.
“This is because it is our moral and professional responsibilities to cater for the welfare of the corps members. I want to assure you that the management of the NYSC will do everything humanly possible to immortalise these distinguished corps members.
“For everybody that worships God and believes in God, one thing that is clear is that all of us will die one day. We believe that it was destined that they will die that day. The place and circumstance by which people will die is only known to God almighty.
“These were young men that were trained and properly brought up. What happened is beyond the imagination of all of us that are mortals. I want to appeal to you to take solace in the fact that they died as heroes.”
Following the request by the family, Bomoi directed that the late Leke’s younger brother, who was a corps member in Osun State, should be redeployed to Ibadan, especially because of the anguish of the parents over the murder of his elder brother.