President Buhari, You Should Have Showed Up To Eulogize Your 11 Fallen Military Brothers

At a time when Nigeria is coping with the Buhari-era depression and anxiety due to mass insecurity, ethnic tension and remainphysically sick with terror 11 military lives would be lost suddenly and tragically around Kaduna.

During a tragedy like this especially when it involves servicemen that included top leaders a President usually pays direct tribute. Many, if not all Nigerians expected you PresidentMuhammadu Buhari to be the one and the first to welcome the bodies for their final home at the National Military Cemetery, inAbuja, where you reside.

Nigerians all over the world would have gained some feelings of solace if you had come out to offer words of comfort to thegrief-stricken families. Nigerians are used to you remaining out of sight, but this time is different, especially for your co-military brothers!

They were servicemen of diverse backgrounds—such as the North, West, Islam, and Christianity. A missed opportunity as you know is a lost opportunity! At a time when there is ethnic agitation and religious tension everywhere. In the face of this tremendous loss, your presence and words would have meant a lot.

Mr. President no amount of excuse for your absence will change minds about your unfair conduct. For God’s sake, Mr. President, you, and your advisers cannot claim security concerns as you would have been in one of the most secured environments ever.

Most of the Nigerian public are aware of your health struggles—so, that cannot be an excuse as they saw you recently returned from London after a private visit and from France after an official visit.

Mr. President, these were your fallen brothers and compatriots. Even if you were under quarantine in Aso Rock, mentally or physically weak or confined to a wheelchair, a five-minute live presence or a nearly five-minute video would have done it in terms of your farewell message—I Feel Your Pain. Mr. President, how did this happen? Especially when you are the father of our country.

It was just last month that America, whose Constitution Nigeriahaphazardly model after, that your counterpart, President Joe Biden eulogized a fallen Capitol Police Officer William Evans at a memorial service in Washington D. C. Remember, you and Biden are generally of the same age.

President Barack Obama in a memorial service in July of 2016 addressed the families of five police officers who died in the line of duty in Dallas, Texas.

President Goodluck Jonathan in December of 2012 attended the memorial service of former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi, who died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State.

President Buhari, had you attended the funeral of these fallen military men and offered condolences to their families, it would have reflected to the world, our nation's caring character. Mr. President you had your moment, you blew it.

I will tell you this much, should you and your advisers privately or public invite these grieving families to Aso Rock, you will be widely slammed as an emotionless and uncaring man who in their darkened hour failed them.

Mr. President, I hope you do not go down in history as a totally heartless, detached, and unsympathetic President especially towards a deeply pained nation and family that experienced imminent loss.

Mr. President, I hope and pray no one wish you die suddenly from any bodily harm, plane crash or debilitating sickness, and should you die after an exceptionally long life, I hope the military who takes seriously its obligation to honor fallenservicemen and support their families during time of grief and sorrow will not treat you like you did to these 11 patriots who died defending Nigeria.

President Joe Biden eulogized a fallen Capitol Police Officer.

President Barack Obama At Dallas Memorial Service.

President Goodluck Jonathan attending late General Andrew Azazi's burial in Bayelsa State.

Author:
Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi, an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal [email protected]