Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
4 May 2008
opinion
Before I proceed with my write up; I wish to condole with the Ministers of the FCT and the good people of Kwali area council over the gruesome killing of the gentle, easy-going and God fearing chairman of the council, Mr Samuel Gwamna, by gunmen which took place in the first month of this year. The manner of the killing touched every person of conscience in the country, making everyone pondered as to what an elected official like Gwamma had done to warrant such a treatment. All I can add, is that may his soul and those killed in similar circumstances, rest well and in peace with the Lord.
The killing really shocked the authorities of the FCT, and other relevant security agencies, and immediately, the minister of state, Senator James John Akpanudoudehe, whose schedules cover the area councils; moved into action to douse tension. This is because the entire Kwali town was enveloped in high tension waiting to burst; and only God knows what could have happened if the people had taken the laws into their hands, which I believed, they were ready to do. As a correspondent covering the FCT, I know how politically restive, residents could be in such situations. So, the action of the minister of state, who made sure that the situation did not degenerate; but brought under good control is therefore commendable.
Kwali is not just one of the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is fast-becoming a hot-spot of sorts. Apart from incessant robbery attacks on vehicles, especially interstate luxury buses, on the Kwali end of the Abuja-Lokoja Road, Kwali is equally making news because of a couple of high-profile killings believed to have ethno-political connotation.
Gwamna was murdered in cold blood on 28th January, 2008, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen as his car made to join the Abuja-Lokoja Road shortly after leaving the Council Secretariat on his way to Abuja.
Residents had told journalists that before Gwamna, another former Chairman of the same Council, Gambo Ibrahim Umar, as well as a former Education Secretary of the Council, Leda Gaji, had equally been killed by unknown people.
On Thursday, 3rd April 2008, as part of his working visit to the six Area Councils, FCT Minister of State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, visited Kwali Area Council. But unlike in similar visits to the other Councils, Akpanudoedehe accepted the invitation of the Parliamentary Speaker, Saleh Danlami Yebu, and the Head of Administration, Sahabo Lamorde, to begin the day with a meet-the-people session.
With the absence of a Council Chairman, both gentlemen sat on the high table, and it was the Head of Administration that read the welcome address which, on the one hand, eulogised the late Gwamna and on the other made a passionate appeal to the FCT Administration and the law/security agencies to find and prosecute Gwamna's killers.
He said with Gwamna's death, Kwali had missed an opportunity to benefit from the industry and dedication of the slain Chairman, who had in the little time he stayed in office initiated the execution of 66 projects and awarded scholarships to over 40 indigent students of Kwali. He then urged the Administration to speedily resolve all issues surrounding Samuel Gwamna's murder.
The FCT Minister of State took over from this point, and, at the end of his address, a grateful audience it was that gave him a standing ovation. While assuring Kwali residents that government was making reasonable progress towards bringing the suspects to face the law, Akpanudoedehe, however, warned against taking the breach of peace on account of government's perceived slow pace or inaction.
His words: "It is very sad for anyone to go as far as killing another human-being for whatever reason. We are doing everything humanly possible; everything scientifically possible, and everything spiritually possible to catch up with those who killed Gwamna.
If you cause a crisis or cause a breach of the peace based on ethnic sentiments, or on the basis that government is not moving fast enough to arrest or prosecute the killers, then we will have no other option than to bring the full wrath of the law to visit you. Justice will be done; but please don't take the laws into your hands. Don't abuse any tribe; live in harmony. The spirit of Gwamna will cry for justice, and it will get justice.
He described Gwamna's murder as a blow and a challenge to the FCT Administration, and explained why a Sole Administrator had not been appointed three months after the Chairman's killing.
According to the Minister, "The Chairman was assassinated; the Vice Chairman has been arrested as the Prime Suspect, and until the security agencies complete their investigations into the matter, the highest-ranking elected official (Speaker of the Legislature) will oversee activities in Kwali along with the Head of Administration. Because of the position of law; we can therefore not swear in an Interim Chairman. Don't forget that this administration does not compromise with the Rule of Law".
The importance of the Minister's assurance was reflected in the response given by a community leader, Etsu Audu Shaban (Nizazo of Kwali), who spoke on behalf of the entire Kwali community.
"Honourable Minister, your speech has doused the tension in Kwali since the assassination of our Chairman, Samuel Gwamna, in January this year. I assure you that we shall ensure that peace reigns always in Kwali and we shall do nothing to disturb the government of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Our people want justice and equity, and your assurance that the government will soon arraign suspects has already doused tension in Kwali. Thank you, Honourable Minister for your kind assurances".
Three days after Senator Akpanudoedehe's pronouncements, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. John Haruna, named 10 suspects, including the Vice Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Adamu Saidu Ashara, as prime suspects in the assassination of Gwamna.
Needless to say, Senator Akpanudoedehe's dedication and passion to issues pertaining to the Area Councils, and to the crisis in Kwali has, without doubt, doused the tension that had built up since Samuel Gwamna was brutally assassinated on that fateful Monday, 28th January 2008. We can only wish that the police and the other law-enforcement agencies would do their bits, as thorough as the Minister of State, towards bringing speedy resolution of the Kwali imbroglio.
My appeal to all Nigerians is to respect the sanctity of the life of each individual as created by God. It does no good neither any help, and it brings no pride for anybody to snuff life out of a fellow human-being for whatever reason. We must be our brothers, and sisters keeper no matter the level of provocation.There is no reward for being a killer in heaven,but rather eternal punishment.
Repeated.
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