By lgbotako Nowinta, Alltimepost Nigeria Bureau Chief
Recent resolution passed by the Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, to brand ‘bandits’, as “terrorists’, because of the unimaginable atrocities being perpetrated by them in the country, has been described as belated and screwed.
Dr. Bode Ekundayo, a senior lecturer, at the Department of English & Literature, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) gave the assessment in a chat with Alltimepost.com in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State at the weekend.
The university Don was cornered for comments, while at the final burial ceremony of late Chief Paul Anabamu Osigbemhe, the Olunatse of Anwianwu Kingdom and father of Mrs. Julie Olatunji, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Government House & Protocol.
Dr. Ekunday said that the recent efforts and courage by the National Assembly to make the Federal Government of Nigeria declare the so called bandits, terrorists were appropriate, but screwed up as they were perfectly belated or unduly delayed.
“The nagging question is why did the National Assembly delay till this time, before taking this overdue step? Why did National Assembly suddenly see that it had not seen earlier? Are we saying as in Nigerian pidgin: Na now day break?
“Why now? Recent trends and targets of the so-called bandits, threaten the individual safety of National Assembly members. The bandits have advanced rapidly to the territory of the high and mighty, now slaughtering and executing Senator’s children, kidnapping Emirs, Chief of Staff of some State Governments, and other high profile government officials.
“It is no longer the bugbear and the tragic lots of innocent farmers, villagers and common Nigerian commuters, who are cheaply waylaid, butchered, kidnapped and killed.
“They now see that the AK 47- totting policemen and bouncers who guide them can no longer guarantee their safety against the daring attacks of the bandits, so tagged”
The public analyst, who described the late Chief Paul Anabamu Osigbemhe, as a community leader per excellence, emphasized that members of the National Assembly and some members of the elite have failed to defend the suffering people of Nigeria.
The late Chief Paul Osigbemhe, a former board member, Edo State Hospital Management Board, who retired as a Chief Pharmacy Technician, died on the 10th of August, 2021 at the age of 94 years.
Late Chief Osigbemhe, who was born into Aposakho kindred, Fugar, where he grew up to become the oldest man, is survived by a brother, Chief Godwin Osigbemhe, two wives, and 18 children.
Mrs. Julie Olatunji nee Osigbemhe, had said the following about her late father: “l will not forget the memories, the discipline, the teachings, your wise words.
“These things molded me into the daughter l am and helped me become the mother l am today. I watched how you protected us, especially me, your Udugbomosi. You made sure l became the best version of myself. I am consoled by the fact that you lived a full live.”
