By Oludamisi Ojo.
A Legal Icon and elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has expressed disgust over the federal government’s slowness in saving Nigerians from war-torn Ukraine being bombed with missiles and tanks by the Russian Republic.
Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), said the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, issued a long notice of attack to the world before carrying out his threat.
The elder statement noted that the notice prompted the United States of America and other nations to warn their nationals to immediately scamper for safety.
In a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, by ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, Babalola said the only way to ensure a ceasefire, is for world powers to prevail on the Russian government to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, with immediate effect.
The statement reads” Vladimir Putin had given long notice to the whole world that he intended to invade Ukraine. Consequently, many countries including the US advised their citizens to leave Ukraine.
“Nigeria was visibly inactive. At the time when it dawned on Nigeria to evacuate Nigerians including students from Ukraine, the airports had been disabled and missiles were flying day and night. The earlier we joined others to prevail on Russia to agree to a ceasefire and withdraw from Ukraine, the better.
“Nigeria has more than 5,600 students and numberless Nigerians who are either studying or working in Ukraine.
“Having gone through the ordeal of 1960, I understand the agony, frustration, and suffering of Nigerians in Ukraine as the bombs, missiles, and tanks are destroying properties, killing innocent people.
We are worried over kidnapping, ritual killings – Ondo Clerics
“After all, we must appreciate that all previous world wars, despite the carnage and destruction of lives and properties ended with one sort of peace agreement or the other but then, did these agreements bring back to life those who were killed?”.
On solution to the crisis, Babalola said: “Solution, to me, is immediate ceasefire by Russia and Ukraine”
He called on the world leaders to prevail on Russia to withdraw his troops to allow United Nations and Security Council to organize a referendum among those states in the East.
Besides, he said the ceasefire would enable citizens of other countries, including Nigeria to evacuate their citizens, urging the United Nations to organize a referendum in all the states with a large population of Russia.
