Yanju Uwala

When the report was made that Zainab Aliyu has been released yesterday, it was a news that made the sphere rolling and everyone was excited, why? This was because, Zainab Aliyu had been implicated as a drug trafficker in Saudi Arabia, and the judgment for any of this offenders is execution in the land. However, the Nigerian government waded into action to secure her release and it was done immediately to avoid her facing the stringent judgment.

Indeed, we may see this as a call for celebration, especially on the part of the government doing its best to ensure the security of a Nigerian, especially when faced with a criminal case that is not true, but do you know that there is also a Nigerian, Kudirat Adeshola Afolabi that also faced same criminal offence like Zainab and was also implicated (not guilty) but was executed at end of the day, on April, 1, to be precise. What could have been the reason for this? Could it be because of ethnic differences or the relationship between these people and the government?

Whatever could have been the reason, the way and manner the administration worked towards the release of Aliyu should have been same way they ought to have worked to secure the freedom of Afolabi, even though they knew she was implicated (not guilty of the offence). This I was made to know through the Nigeria-Consul in Saudi Arabia when they wrote a memo to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, about this case; but the minister decided to ignore the memo or rather do nothing against it.

"There exists a criminal syndicate collaborating with greedy officials of some airlines at MAKIA, notably Ethiopian and Egyptian Airlines, who connive to check in drug-laden bags, using passenger’s particulars without their consent or knowledge;

“Nigerian victims of the activities of these criminal gangs were arrested and detained in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking offences they did not commit...."

Also, the Special Adviser to the Presidency on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who expressed concern that some of the trials of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia have not been transparent and fair.

She even said that Afolabi was unfairly executed.

"We keep appealing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure their trial is fair," Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said.

However, what could have prompted the same government that failed to secure the freedom of these Nigerians who are free of drug trafficking now coming back to action to secure freedom of Zainab Aliyu, even within a month? This question remains a big one on mind of everyone to answer.

We could say that the execution of innocent Nigerians could have be the failure on part of Onyeama and Dabiri-Erewa, but all same they are part of the present administration and they have made the administration to become more engrossed in the failure of a system which has been part of it ever since.

A twitter user, Engr Remi Opakunle tweeted this: "The Consul is reported to have said there was no response to his letters. The impending execution was widely reported in the media before Adeshola was executed 2 weeks ago. That was one needless death, of an innocent, that shouldn't have happened.

“Imagine being on Death row and facing death every day with the knowledge that you are innocent, the misery, the torture of facing certain death with the full knowledge that you are innocent, that is totally, totally inhumane....

“Kudirat Adeshola Afolabi, your country failed you, your government failed you, Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un Rest in peace and may your soul find rest and succor with your maker.”

Well, I won't really say it's all fault or failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari but of a bad system which we have been quite involved in ever since, even we were "deceived" to be ready for change. But is this change we were told to get ready for?

Time will tell...