Uwaila Omozuwa: How growing anger forced out delayed response from Buhari
After days of outpouring rage on the internet, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday evening finally reacted to the killing of Uwaila Omozuwa, a 20-year-old student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State.
Many Nigerians had accused him of keeping mum when he is expected to take action and assure citizens of government’s plan to put an end to the rising cases of rape and killings of innocent citizens across the nation.
In his reaction via his Twitter handle on Tuesday evening, he said “I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Uwaila Omozuwa. I expect the Nigeria Police Force to speedily and diligently investigate this case and ensure that all the culprits responsible for this barbaric act are brought to justice.”
The President did not mention the case of 16-year-old Tina Ezekwe who was killed in Lagos by a police officer and other cases of extrajudicial killings that has triggered anger on the internet.
In different tweets seen by Neusroom, many Nigerians have also criticised the President for his delayed response. A Twitter user wrote “You definitely have a problem with TIMING…always delayed in your responses and communications”.
Buhari is famous for his paucity of words and delayed response to burning national issues. In March when Africa countries were recording outbreak of COVID-19 which prompted Presidents across the continent and some governors in Nigeria like Babajide Sanwo-Olu to rise up to the challenge by frequently updating, educating and reassuring their citizens amid rising tension and uncertainty, Buhari was silent until outraged Nigerians and Senators started demanding that he should address the nation.
In March 2019 when Kolade Johnson was shot dead by a police officer in Lagos, Buhari reacted three days after anger had swept across the internet, promising that the police would be reformed and justice would be served.
He had tweeted: “I acknowledge the genuine outrage from citizens and civil society groups regarding the activities of SARS. As you’re aware, the suspects in the Kolade Johnson killing are in custody. When the orderly-room trial is concluded, the indicted officers will be prosecuted in court.
“While important steps have been taken by the police leadership to restructure and reform SARS, in line with presidential directives, more needs to be done. I assure (Nigerians that) this will be done. We will continue to work to ensure that we have a police force that adheres to the rule of law.”
14 months after the incident, the Police is yet to be reformed, Kolade is yet to get justice and there have been hundreds of cases of extrajudcial killings perpetrated by men in uniform in the last one year.
His wife, Aisha, who is always vocal whenever she is denied her ‘rights’ by aides of the President has also kept mum on the several cases of rape that has sparked outrage on the internet.
Convener of the Concerned Nigerians Group, Deji Adeyanju, who also expressed worry over Aisha’s silence tweeted: “Comrade Aisha Buhari is currently unaware of all happenings in the country. But once the cabal members start sidelining her, she will start shouting ALUTA again.
