By EMMANUEL AZIKEN

THAT the killing of two European hostages, Italian Franco Lamolinara and Briton Christopher McManus  during a failed rescue mission in Sokoto  would spark a diplomatic row is not surprising. The Italian authorities are miffed that the British authorities knew of and indeed participated in the failed rescue mission without telling the authorities in Rome.

There is no doubt that had the rescue mission been successful that the present animosity between London and Rome would not have surfaced.

Had the raid been successful the news of the rescue would have enraptured the diplomats and family members who have for months now been involved in negotiations for the release of the hostages. It is a testimony to the old saying that failure has few friends.

The response of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Dave Cameron to the death of the British citizen was sorrowfully conveyed to his citizens on nationwide television.

Mr. Cameron made his broadcast after privately conveying the news to the family of the deceased Briton and comforting them. It also emerged that the Prime Minister was periodically in touch with the relatives of Mr. McManus while the kidnap lasted.

The developments in Britain and Italy underscore the great value that the two countries give to the lives of their citizens. At home and abroad the security and wellbeing of citizens should ordinarily be the primary consideration of government.

That is why when such incidents as happened in Sokoto occur in these countries the principal officials of government, notably Prime Minister or legislator show obvious concern.

However, in these climes the seeming detachment of our elected officials at all levels to the lives and security of our people is clearly apparent.

It is an attitude that is also replicated abroad where Nigerian diplomats abandon their consular duties allowing Nigerians abroad to wallow sometimes in avoidable difficulties.

The crisis provoked by the Boko Haram Islamic sect should have been an opportunity for Nigerian leaders to show some devotion to the citizenry. But regrettably, in the absence of courage and selflessness the people have been left on their own.

The president who is leader of the country and not just leader of the PDP should have identified with the brutalized people of Borno by possibly even relocating to the very perimeters of the headquarters of the sect in Maiduguri.

But I have not heard of any such visit by either him or his predecessor since the outbreak of the crisis. Imagine the comfort and assurance that the dazed citizens of Maiduguri would have with the president sleeping overnight near them.

Governors and legislators from the affected states have almost totally relocated to the security comfort of Abuja and left their beloved electorates behind, periodically visiting home under tight security guard.

With the notable exception of Governor Peter Obi who was reported to have comforted families from his state affected by the harrowing Madalla bombing, how many governors have gone out to make personal contact with the families of those affected by the spate of bombing in the country?

The only other governor who came out to empathize with victims was Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the irony in his case being that he is suffused with cash but lacks a territory.

The response of the British and Italian authorities should be a provocation to the Nigerian authorities. Government should be caring and should be seen as a big brother in the real sense.

It is not as if the British, Italian and other foreign political leaders who show concern for agonizing constituents are always altruistic in their declarations. The lure for office is often a primary consideration and such leaders who can show crass disdain for the pains of their citizens are often punished during elections.

Well that is because votes count in those climes. In these shores our politicians would rather pay for a full page advert in solidarity with political godfathers and mothers at the slightest prompting than care the hoot for the hundreds of citizens in pain. It is a shame.