"The subject of capital punishment is controversial...

"The subject of capital punishment is controversial and emotional," wrote Gabriel Osu in the Vanguard, "it is no longer considered as an appropriate form of punishment for murder or other serious crimes because it continues the cycle of violence; it is not a deterrent to crime as empirical studies indicate that it has no effect as a deterrent. in its application and, it is discriminatory. The death penalty falls, most often, on the under-privileged - the indigent, minority, and ethnic groups, the helpless? Mistakes can be, and have been made, resulting in the death of innocent persons. These mistakes are not remediable as they preclude the possibility of reform or rehabilitation and repentance. The death penalty and its delays cause anguish to the family of the criminal. The publicity attendant upon executions arouse animosity and escalates the level of violence. There is no humane way for the state to kill someone? The Government has the duty to punish criminals and to prevent the repetition or any occurrence of crime. However, the prevention of crime lies elsewhere than in the death penalty. The roots of crime are human sinfulness, poverty, lack of academic and moral education, poor neighbourhoods, broken family life, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. Society or leaders should address more earnestly the root causes of crime? The question is not whether the State has the right to impose the death penalty but whether or not at this state of civilization it should impose it. Life or long term imprisonment in maximum security prisons, for example, are better ways the Nation can protect itself other than the death penalty. The death penalty is expressly against the law of God and against humanitarian law and civilization."