Speaking on an African Independent Television, AIT, programme, monitored in Abuja, the D-G said governors of states where the corps members were killed, failed in their responsibilities of protecting the young graduates posted to assist in the development of their states.
He lamented that some governors never cared to provide even the most basic facilities and also failed to protect the helpless young men and women posted to their states to render free service in the scheme designed to strengthen national unity and accelerated development in their greatest time of need.
Responding to calls for him to quit, the general said the safety and welfare of corps members were uppermost on his mind and that he was ready to quit if that would make a difference.
His words: “One thing I would want to clear is that I am not after making a name for these corps members that have been killed on duty, and if it is something that will solve the crisis, I have already written that I am ready to resign. I weep and feel bad when I lost any corps member
“Everybody was given a responsibility, the state government had its responsibility in giving them accommodation and most of them never bothered to do that. We are calling on NYSC state coordinators to go and inform the parents of the lost corps members on what went wrong.”
The NYSC boss insisted that the murdered corps members did not deserve to be killed as, according to him, both international and local election observers, as well as voters were united in their testimonies that the corps members did well in their handling of the polls.
“The corps members did a very good job and we had a free and fair election for which the whole world gave the corps members commendation for the a well done,” he said
Competent government sources said in Abuja that scores of corps members were killed and that many were still missing in the Northern states as at last week, a situation that had caused grieve among NYSC members and staff, as well as the nation as a whole.
It was learnt that a meeting between the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier Ismaila Tsiga and chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, last week dwelt on government disappointment over the dastardly act of killing corps members who are guests of the communities where they serve.
President Goodluck Jonathan had, in his last week nationwide broadcast, warned that killing NYSC members would no longer be tolerated and that state governors where they are serving must take personal responsibility for their safety.
His words: “Sadly, some misguided elements do not share in the spirit of our democratic achievements. They formed into groups of miscreants and struck with deadly and destructive force in some parts of the country.
“The mobs also targeted government offices and facilities, especially those of INEC. They waylaid vulnerable youth corps members, even though we all know that these young and innocent Nigerians are guests within our communities and are agents of public good and national unity.
“We are shocked by these horrific acts which strike at the heart of our nation. These disturbances are more than mere political protests. Clearly, they aim to frustrate the remaining elections. This is not acceptable.
“In view of the condemnable attacks on our gallant Youth Corps members, I have directed all state governors to take personal responsibility for their security and safety in the states where they serve”
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