Death Sentence for Kidnappers in Nigeria: What Were Senators Waiting For?

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The list of kidnapped persons and personalities is too long to be mentioned. From the South-West to the South-South and to South-East; many Nigerians – from Religious figures to Political and to Economic entities; there has been increasing rate of kidnapping in most States in Nigeria. While some States appear to be fighting the menace; some are mute about it. The situation then becomes, ‘as long as it does not come to us; we will not go to it’.

Sometime ago, the Chairman of a political party in Nigeria, a former Presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae was Kidnapped around his farm in Ondo State. After a long wait and “pursuit” by the security forces; he was released – although, he claimed to have paid a ransom for his release, which the police denied. Bishops, Mothers-in-law, brothers, cousins, nephews, aunties, businessmen, businesswomen, expatriates and many other groups have become victims of this heinous crime in Nigeria. In fact, a renowned human right Lawyer, Barrister Mike Ozekhome was kidnapped sometime in 2013. The list is indeed very long and alarming.

One would have thought that the spread and the horror of this act would have attracted the attention of the Federal Lawmakers in Nigeria. However, they appeared more concerned about their own interests over the years. From successive Republics to the present 8th Republic; the House of Representatives and the Senate did not show significant interest in containing this crime.

However, a few days ago, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic was kidnapped for about 7 days; and was just released less than 30 hours ago. Just immediately after the incidence, the Senate approved death sentence for kidnappers in Nigeria. Was it a bad judgment? No! But why the wait? Why the hurting delay and silence of the highest lawmaking body in the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

There is a serious need for Nigerians to ask salient questions from these Lawmakers. I remember how the National Assembly reacted to the increasing rate of plane crashes in Nigeria after a lawmaker was involved. Nigeria is such a place that the people do not have value; lives of “ordinary Nigerians” are so ordinary before the politicians that 10, 000 Nigerians is still not equal to a Politician. Where did they get all that from? Did Nigerians sell themselves too cheap to their representatives?

An American (whether rich or poor; male or female) is of great value to America. No nation can play with the life of any American. But in Nigeria, until the figure reaches hundreds of thousands; it does not become a worrisome matter to our Politicians. I beg to disagree with the Politicians in Nigeria that 10,000 Nigerians are not equal to a Politician. The truth is, every Nigerian is important to God; and must be important to the Politicians.

Important decisions that affect Nigerians must be made by the political class; even when it has not yet affected their members or their class: For the nation-Nigeria is our collective portion – heritage! I rest my case for now!

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