Nigeria close to the precipice – Ex-minister

 by Olusola Fabiyi

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
| credits: File copy

A former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has said the country is on the edge of a precipice.

Ezekwesili, a former Vice-President of the World Bank, spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday on the Mubi massacre and the killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt by a mob.

The UNIPORT students were alleged to have stolen laptops and telephones.

Ezekwesili said she was devastated that the students were burnt and videotaped in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by the killers.

The former minister said, “I am shaken; I am outraged, I am devastated, I feel mortally wounded.

“The situations in Mubi and Port Harcourt were terrible. Did you see the video-recording of how students were killed in Port Harcourt?

“Is this not the same country where it is emotionally difficult when you see a corpse on the street?

“I am sorry; I am totally outraged like any decent citizen of a nation that we love. The killings were barbaric, mere savagery and very devastating.

“We are getting to the precipice and we need to pull ourselves back. The government has to take full responsibility; it has to be in charge to prevent anarchy.

“The only way out is for the government to prove that it is really in charge.”

She said it was obvious that some people were acting or behaving as if there were no people in charge of the government.

“Something is fundamentally wrong with our society: To see the dastardly mob’s killing of four misguided youths (in Port Harcourt) who stole, sank my optimism. No! Even in death, these four must get justice. My voice shall be heard on this. What have we become?” almost sobbing.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has said Nigeria needs prayers in order to combat the security challenge facing it.

Tukur, after reviewing the recent killings in Mubi, added that the security problems confronting the country needed to be tackled with all seriousness.

To secure Adamawa State from cultists or terrorist groups, he said there should be concerted efforts by all to complement efforts by the security agencies.

The PDP chairman spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday at his residence.

He called on security agents not to relent on their efforts until they fish out the perpetrators.

Punch