Those who murdered Kogi PDP woman leader still walking free, Govs, Wada, others lament

..Govs donate N10m to Salome Abuh Foundation

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

Two years after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, woman leader in Kogi state, Salome Abuh, was burnt alive, governors elected on the platform of the PDP, widower, former governor Ibrahim Idris and other prominent Nigerians lament that the masterminds of the heinous crime are still walking the streets free.

Also, the PDP governors also donated a token of N10m to the Salome Abuh Foundation to help in rebuilding the homes destroyed by the arsonists.

Making the donation on behalf of the governors in Abuja yesterday, Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Cyril Maduabum, called on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to go tough on criminal elements, adding that impunity reins when people don’t get punished for the crimes they committed.

According to him, “We decided to show presence here because we feel that the impunity as represented by the event that we are commemorating today has continued. It has continued because there is no serious response by the government in power to tackle impunity. Impunity is perhaps the greatest problem we have in Nigeria. It is because if impunity that we have rampant corruption, because you can do anything and get away with it. Impunity has led to massive bloodshed on a daily bases in Nigeria. People are killed wantonly, people are killed whimsically.

“Impunity leads to all sorts of things. Her blood cries to heaven for vengeance because the mastermind has not been brought to book. Those who promoted the atmosphere of violence, those who think that they are God on earth and can do anything they like and get away with it, they have not been brought to book. And that is why the country is where it is today.

“If the death of Salome has been taken care of, if the masterminds have been taken care of, if those who promoted ‘tatata’ in Kogi have been been taken care of….. That is why we have rampant kidnapping, that is why we have rampant banditry, terrorism, the country is no doubt a failed state under the current government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The bucks stops at the table of the President.

“Yes we have state governors who can do their bit, but the security architecture is such that governors are powerless to act. You cannot command a DPO as a governor, they will tell you that they have to talk to their commissioners of Police, if you talk to the Commissioner of Police, he will tell you that he will get permission from IG. From that they will say that they will get permission from the Minister of Police Affairs or the President. Before you finish, crimes have already been committed.

“The PDP governors have repeatedly called for the rejigging of the security architecture of the country in such a way that policing can be decentralized. But of course, there must be proper safeguards because if you have some governors that promote violence, then it is also very dangerous to leave such security in their hands. We believe that there should be proper checks and balances to ensure that security prevails in Nigeria.”

The widower, Elder Simeon Abuh said her wife was killed because “her doggedness, forthrightness and achievements could not be tolerated resulting to her being marked for that abomination. ”

He said, “Is it possible for one person to commit such magnitude of destructions of life and properties in our compound and other key PDP stakeholders houses in the community within such a few hours?

“Kogi state police command paraded six boys including Ocholi Edicha who were said to have confessed to the crime. Surprisingly, five were charged for armed robbery and only Ocholi Edicha became the murderer and arsonist. Police is our friend, Police is their friend. Why were the others named not arrested and prosecuted?”

Former Governor Idris also said that he is hopeful that the real culprits will be made to serve the Justice and that people who kill because of power will equally be visited with retribution.