President Goodluck Jonathan By Toba Suleiman in Ado-Ekiti

President Goodluck Jonathan

By  Toba Suleiman in Ado-Ekiti

As parents and relations of National Youth Service Corps members killed in the post-election violence that rocked some parts of the North continue to bury their dead, it has emerged that President Goodluck Jonathan will on Tuesday in Abuja meet families of the 10 slain corps members.

THISDAY learnt parents and relations of the deceased corps members have already been contacted through the NYSC for the audience with the president.

The families of the slain corps members, two per each of the deceased, will meet President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, where he is expected to unfold the plans for the immortalisation of the corps members and modalities for the revitalisation of the NYSC scheme.
As part of the immortalisation plans, the slain corps members may be given post-humous national honours. Cash rewards may also be given to their families. The sum of N10 million per each of the slain corps members is being proposed.
It was learnt that the Federal Government may also take up the education of the children that may be left behind by any of the killed NYSC members.

On the revitalisation of the NYSC programme, President Jonathan has already said the security of the corps members will henceforth become the responsibility of the governors in states where they are serving.
But there is a proposal already before the president from the National Security Adviser for the revival of the Local Government Area NYSC security committee that will comprise the Divisional Police Officer in the area, State Security Service Officer in the area and NYSC inspector among others to ensure the protection of corps members in their areas.

Nine corps members were first confirmed killed by rioters in Bauchi State following the April 16 presidential election. There were Teidi Tosin Olawale (Osun), Adeniji Kehinde Jeleel (Osun), Gbenjo Ebenezer Ayotunde (Osun), Nkw-azema Anslem Chukw-unonyerem (Imo), Okpokiri Obinna Micheal (Abia), Adowei Elliot (Bayelsa), Adewunmi Seun Paul (Ekiti), Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor (Imo) and Akonyi Ibrahim Sule (Kogi).

But another corps member, the 10th, a female, whose identity was not known died last weekend from injuries she sustained from the attack on her in Dombam Local Government Area of Bauchi State where she served during the presidential poll.

The news of the death of the 10th victim emerged as the remains of the other nine slain corps members were being removed from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Hospital (ATBUTH) mortuary and taken to their various states of origin for burial.
The burial of the slain corps members began last week with the interment of the three from Osun State. On Thursday, Abia and Imo states also buried their dead corps members.

Friday, there were tears and wailings in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, as the slain 27 year-old corps member from the state, Seun Adewunmi Paul, was buried. He was given a state burial.
Even the state Governor Kayode Fayemi managed to fight back tears, as  he delivered his emotion laden speech before the crowd of sympathizers that included over 200 corps members.
Fayemi described the killing as barbaric.

Seun, a native of Ogotun Ekiti in Ekiti South-west Local Government, was serving in Giade in Bauchi State before he was hacked to death by irate youths during the post-election violence.
While promising that the state would foot the educational bills of the sibling of late Paul, Fayemi also disclosed that a befitting monument would be erected in his remembrance.

Fayemi said the death of the youth corps members was an indication that Nigeria is yet to be a nation.
He called on the Federal Government to do all within its powers to bring to justice those irate youths that unleashed mayhem on these innocent Nigerians in the overall interest of the nation and the sustainability of Nigeria’s unity.