I still cannot comprehend the news that i read on nairaland.com. Governor Oshiomole signing into law the extermination of kidnappers, I think it unwise. It shows the double standard ruling the roast in Nigeria as the poor and less privileged suffers from a bagged corner and gets killed for being human.

An adage says when a toad is hunted to its house, it turns back and bites. The youth have suffered so much in the hands of the ruling elites and the poor are the most unfortunate. The Government disposition is nothing short of discouraging and forcing the poor to seek survival at all cost and kidnapping, Scam artistry, 419 etc. has been surviving enterprises for the frustrated youths.

I am in no way justifying the act of kidnapping but I think the capital punishment for kidnapping is barbaric and hypocritical. That decision was made in an emotionally destabilized moment. Oshiomole, visibly angry, came to office at about 7:30 am the following day after a kidnap event, and called for the amended kidnap law file. Oshiomole was particularly touched that Esan sons and daughters, who came home from Europe, America and other parts of the world for a meeting, were either kidnapped or short dead in the unfortunate event. At about 11am, the governor signed the kidnap bill into law and urged all those concerned to ensure full implementation. The law prescribed death penalty for kidnappers.

Did Governor Oshiomole consider the advice of Chief Mike Ozhekome at all? A victim of kidnap himself, he advocated for amnesty. He told tales of his encounter with graduates turned kidnappers. What on earth would make such bright leaders of tomorrow turn kidnappers? Governor Oshiomole! Do you have the answer? If the kidnappers were as fortunate as Esan, his sons and daughters, having the means to live abroad or comfortably in Nigeria, would they have turned kidnappers? It is no more secret that majority of the rich in Nigeria today got their fortunes one way or the other from corrupt government and recently, General Yakubu Gowon confessed that those who seek a divided Nigeria are the ones who have not had a share of the National Cake.

What other language does the government understand? If our leaders are yet to discover the grave danger of unemployment and corruption in high places, then the country must be hopeless. They adorn themselves in beautiful apparels, costly attires, perfume, gold and diamond jewels, they move in exotic and bullet proof cars and fly in private jets, their food budget runs into million and billions of Naira while they look on the poor with such despicable eyes. They created the problems that forced bright minds in to kidnapping, now the same unfortunate ones are to pay for it with their lives.

Governor Oshiomole! Even if the heavens fall, justice must prevail. If only you know the true meaning of Justice. Sign the death penalty for corrupt leaders. Hang one on the three and see a beautiful Nigeria born and an end to kidnapping. Now that Kidnappers are to die, don’t you think what is good for the goose is also good for the gander?

Ken Advocacy