Probe Mailafia’s Sudden Death – Rights Group Insists
BY EDMOND ODOK – A Human Rights group, Concerned Nigerians (CN) has called for an immediate probe of circumstances surrounding the death of Development Economist and former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Obadiah Mailafia, in Abuja early Sunday morning, September 18, 2021.
Convener of the group, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, said the investigation is of utmost importance against the backdrop of insinuations in the public domain that Nigerians who criticise the Buhari-led administration and strive to expose the massive human rights abuses and corruption in the system are now targets of the government.
A statement by the group said; “We call on the Nigerian authorities to ensure that no foul play was involved in the death of Dr. Obadiah Mailafia. He had been violently targeted by some persons averse to his positions on how ethnic minorities in Northern Nigeria are being treated.
“The Nigerian civic space is very hostile and dissidents are constantly being targeted by those in government.
“Finally, we call on the authorities to launch an inquest into the death of Dr. Obadiah and we pray Almighty God to grant late Human rights activist, eternal repose.”
A fierce critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government and rights activist that advocates freedom and human rights for ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, Dr Mailafia, aged 64, died in controversial circumstances at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja following a brief illness.
And giving a detailed account of how Mailafia sadly lost the battle to an undisclosed ailment at the Hospital, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) alleged official conspiracy as partly responsible for his untimely demise.
The Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Isuwa Dogo blamed the supposed lukewarm attitude of medical personnel for the untimely death of Mailafia who was the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s flagbearer in the 2019 presidential elections.
