A lawmaker at the House of Representatives has called for national mourning in order to show remorse for the several lives lost to the herdsmen killings in Nigeria.
Honourable Kingsley Chinda Ogundu representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State made the passionate plea for national mourning on Wednesday, February 7 while supporting the motion for the sack of the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.
The lawmakers had earlier called for the sack and replacement of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris accusing him of failing in his duty.
The PDP lawmaker said Nigerian government and Nigerians generally need to be mourning at the moment.
“Mr Speaker, my dear colleagues, very sincerely our country ought to still be in a mourning mood. In fact, all of us in government and governance ought to be mourning the loss of Nigerians, from January, up till date.
“If we consider that the primary purpose of Government is the security of lives and property, I think the question we should be asking ourselves is how well have we carried out this primary purpose.
“We are talking about a situation where those who are supposed to enforce the law are even making public utterances that is provocative and could even fuel the situation.
“Let me say that I support this motion, completely. The problem we have is the lack of rule of law. We cannot be crying for peace, calling for development when injustice abounds. It is Benue today, we don’t know where it will be tomorrow,” he said.
Ogundu also questioned President Buhari’s position on the crisis in Benue calling for the outcome of the meeting which the President held with the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and some Benue elders on Monday, January 15.
“What is the position of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He had a meeting with the people (elders) of Benue, what was the outcome of that meeting. What did he say? What did he tell them? It is the body language of Mr President that others will follow.
“If we keep pampering this thing, it will continue. We are talking about over 70 Nigerians, how will the international community be looking at this country? We are legislators, it is our role to represent these people, including those that were killed, they have representatives here and we out to take proactive steps.”
He also called on Nigerian lawmakers to put the interest of Nigeria first before their personal interest or relationship.
“Mr Speaker, we need to wake up. We are talking about the future of this country. Our interest should be the interest of Nigeria first, over and above our personal relationship with anybody and there is nobody that is bigger than entire Nigeria, therefore, Nigeria should be put first. That is why I said we should be in a mourning mood to show remorse.”