The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, has bemoaned what he called the growing criminal depletion of the Nigerian youth population over lack of intentional efforts to track and tame the perpetrators.
Melaye spoke on Friday against the backdrop of the death of 27-year-old singer and rapper, Promise IleriOluwa Aloba, a.k.a Mohbad, who died last week Tuesday and the attendant speculation about the circumstances surrounding his sudden demise.
In a statement personally signed by the former Kogi West Senator and social justice crusader, titled; ‘Mohbad Death!!! Life Must Begin To Matter’, he noted that Mohbad’s death was another painful addition to the inglorious catalogue of inexplicable termination of the lives of many young Nigerians.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies to unravel the mystery surrounding Mohbad’s sad death, not only to address the interest it has generated, but to assure the populace that the life of every Nigerian counts and can be accounted for.
Melaye said: “The mysterious death of a young Nigerian talent, Mohbad, is another painful addition to the inglorious catalogue of inexplicable termination of the lives of many of our young people.
“Coming closely to the recent revelations about the gruelling and blood-chilling elimination of the unsung victims of the End-SARS protest, and the perceived apathy of criminal investigation outfits, there is a sad reminder that life does not count for much in our country.
“If truly the youth are the future of Nigeria, how great can that future be when the promising class of its demography is exposed to undefended threats?
“The criminal depletion of the youth population has grown worse because enough efforts have not been made to track and tame the perpetrators of evil. To be sure, there have been many cases of kidnapped, or even in bizarre instances, extinguished members of the National Youth Service Corps, who are left to the plight of their familymembers. A lot more can be done to protect lives.
“The time has come for Nigerians to adopt the philosophy of John Donne, who, in his popular poem, ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls, said, “Each man’s death diminishes me”. Life is precious and can not be replaced. It should, therefore, be protected and defended.
“I appeal to the security community to unravel the mystery surrounding Mohbad’s sad death, not only to address the interest it has generated, but to assure the populace that the life of every Nigerian counts and can be accounted for.
“As we seek justice and pursue it, let’s tread cautiously to avoid further grief or any associated tragedy.”
