Like many I have observed with great trepidation the recent spate of violence with the accompanying gruesome pictures in my home. Not only do we have Boko Haram, we now have the additional election violence. I am yet to understand why the spilling of blood seems to have become the norm in our beloved country. It has become impossible to ignore—attaching a bomb to an innocent 10 year old to be detonated at a market, the killings of over 2000 Nigerians in the NE part of our country as reported by Amnesty International in the last week and the burning up of PDP transportation in Benue. Most Nigerians have heard and probably seen pictures of the violence, yet there appears to be complete “calm” in the country—not a bleep from citizens or government. Juxtapose this with the recent events in Paris, France where 16 people lost their lives, 20 if you include the assailants. Not only did the government in France respond vigorously and in a determinate manner to get to the bottom of the matter but it enlisted support from the entire world. Today the largest public demonstration of unity and resolve ever held in France—well over 3 million French citizens demonstrated in a show of solidarity and defiance in the face of such dastardly and cowardly acts of violence.
Can we say that what happened in Paris supersedes anything we have experienced in Nigeria lately? Why the difference in response? Besides the obvious ineptitude of our security apparatus, which the entire world acknowledges—what else could it be? My friends, I am left wondering—what does it take to move us or spur us into action? We are at the height of our complacency and we have no one to blame but ourselves. It seems there is a difference in the way we value life. Our so called leaders are engaged in a political warfare that has encouraged their foot soldiers to partake of the worst kinds of violence—one that is no more insidious but completely overt and callous. Acts that are offensive to eyes and conscience. What is the duty of government and what is our responsibility as citizens—I ask?
Violence has been politicized because for the most part it has not come home to roost. The victims are nameless to us so there is no emotional connection—yet these are somebody’s mother, father, children and family members. In the words of Robert Nesta Marley—“we stand around and look”. We are all complicit and I believe we will answer for it—if nothing else we shall live in it. Sooner or later it will touch our lives if we do not act. Please save that “not my portion” stuff—we all own this baby. Pardon my ranting, I just wanted to share my grief. May God help us all. Help someone!
Paul Inyang – 1/11/2015 (USA).