Nigerians have expressed concern over the contined silence of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following the death of a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia.

Recall that the 64-year-old died on September 19, 2021at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada after a brief illness.

The PUNCH however reported that five days after his death, the presidency and the Kaduna government have refused to honour his memory with at least, a condolence message.

Unlike the presidency, Mailafia has been mourned by a number of leading organisations, including the Northern Governors Forum; Christian Association of Nigeria, Southern Kaduna People’s Union, Arewa Consultative Forum, National Consultative Front, amongst others.

The presidency raised further concerns two days ago, September 21, when it released a congratulatory message on the re-election of the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

A condolence message was also released by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, on the demise of Risikat Adegeye, the wife of legendary juju singer, Sunday Adegeye aka King Sunny Ade, who died on Tuesday.

The Presidency had also expressed sadness over the death of the Emir of Gaya, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, who died on Wednesday, September 22, a clear four days after Mailafia’s demise.

Flip the coin to Kaduna State where the deceased hailed from; there has also been no condolence message honouring Mailafia.

This leaves a big question as to why Buhari and El-Rufia have drifted from the norm in the case of their kinsman (a fellow northerner) who served as deputy governor of the apex bank between May 2005 and March 2007.

Efforts to reach Adesina proved abortive, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; as well as his spokesman, Segun Adeyemi, were unsuccessful as their lines were unreachable.

Text messages sent to their lines were not replied as of press time.

Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, did not take calls to his line and did not reply to a text message sent.