I received with consternation,sadness and agony the news of the death of about twenty eight Nigerian girls, who died at sea enroute Italy in search of greener pastures.These were young women,Nigerian citizens,future leaders whose lives have been cut short in their search for a better life.
We are constantly inundated with stories of people,mostly Nigerians,putting their lives at risk in a bid to cross over from Africa to Europe in search of economic opportunities and a better standard of living most often with suicidal consequences. These people often take on this dangerous and sometimes suicidal journey because of the failure of their home governments to meet up with the most basic of its responsibility. It is the responsibility of any government to protect the lives and property of its citizens and were such citizens flee from the country due to insecurity,harsh economic situation and collapse in infrastructure,to greener pastures,then the government could be said to have failed in its responsibility.
The death of these girls is generating sympathy just as it is sparking international uproar and outcry over the spate of African migrants trying to cross illegally to Europe. With the attention the incidence is generating around the world,the home government of these twenty eight girls who drowned,together with their dreams and aspirations,while in search of a better life,has remained mute over the incidence.
The fact that the story of the twenty eight girls who lost their lives while trying to cross over from Africa to Europe is receiving more attention and making more news and headlines in the international community than in the home country of the girls,speaks volumes about the premium our government places on human lives in this country.
How a government keeps mum over the death of twenty eight of its citizens,especially in these circumstances,beats my imagination. I have heard stories of soldiers who lost their lives while fighting gallantly in the north-east and whose families were totally neglected by government,without as much as an acknowledgement by the government of the sacrifices of these patriots.
Sometimes I wonder what it will take for the government to truly care about its citizens. When will human life really matter to our leaders?We continue to witness wanton destruction and gruesome killings in the middlebelt region and other parts of the country without as much as a statement from government condemning the dastardly act or even making any attempt at bringing the culprits to book.
The low premium government places on the lives of citizens has never been as evident as in the case of Kaduna State were the state government paid killers,of its citizens, compensation while leaving the victims to lick their wounds.
No nation or country can develop without its government placing a high premium on the lives of its citizens. The United States is the greatest country in the world because of the premium its government places on Americans,same can also be said for most,if not all,developed nations.
I believe that a country that places high premium on the lives of its citizens,gives its citizens a sense of belonging and confidence,encouraging such a citizen to be patriotic and make sacrifices for the good and progress of that country. Government must hold sacrosanct the lives of its citizens for a better,safer,prosperous,united and developed country and the citizens on their part owe it a responsibility to elect government that places high premium on the lives of its citizens.
I sincerely commiserate with the families,relati
ons,loved ones and indeed the entire people of our dear country over the unfortunate and needless death of our daughters and sisters. I pray that God grant their souls eternal rest and grant their families,relations,loved ones and all Nigerians the fortitude to bare this irreplaceable loss.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
GOD BLESS KADUNA STATE!
GOD BLESS US ALL!
