I AM IN A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY COUNTRY.
The Presidency and our security services are not as proactive, that’s the vibe we get. Between the manipulations of the media and the half-truths of Lai Muhammed, we are left with more questions than answers
The pass came in from the left, Victor Moses connected it and ran down the right flank looking up just in time to see a few of his teammates had arrived in the Iceland eighteen-yard box, he made a cross, and the ball soared. As it dropped, Ahmed Musa (our prolific striker) who was charging in on the Iceland team's defence stopped the ball with his left and in one deft move struck with his right. The stadium went up in a cheerful roar as the ball shook the back of the net!
I was at work that afternoon, customers had left and it was just me and my colleagues. We screamed our lungs out, we jumped and cheered. This feeling of happiness and elation echoed through Nigeria. For a moment we were one. We didn’t care about the ineptitude of our politicians, we didn’t bother about our economic woes or our security challenges. We were one! And in that unison we celebrated.
We were still basking in that euphoria two days after when news started to flow out of Adamawa, the home state of Atiku, a former vice president currently in contention for the presidency. Then the restive Jos plateau killings came to light as well. These gruesome unprovoked attacks sent us back to caring, arguing, and bickering. Our moment of respite and happiness was taken from us.
Social media is agog over the murders, it's terrible that people would be killed like animals in their communities! The alleged killers, members of the loose partisan advocacy group Miyetti Allah, butchered over one hundred people in reprisal attacks for the alleged killing of about 300 of their cows. Animal cruelty should be frowned upon and punished accordingly, but to kill humans as revenge for the loss of cows which will end up as meat for human consumption (except in India) is a confirmation of deranged minds.
Those people should be decisively dealt with without fear of favour but we are in Nigeria. It’s a political issue. Every pundit on both sides of the divide (yeah, there are those in support of the killings) will convince even the very elect if allowed. But there shouldn’t be unending debates. The laws of nature and those of this federal republic are clear. If you do a crime you must do the time. No politics or favouritism.
The Presidency and our security services are not as proactive, that’s the vibe we get. Between the manipulations of the media and the half-truths of Lai Muhammed, we are left with more questions than answers although our security forces are battling insurgence, particularly in the North Eastern part of the country.
On the 25th of June, a day after the news of the massacre became public knowledge a Lagos state task force demolished illegal structures across the state. At the Lagos state abattoir along the Fagba rail track, several shanty structures were demolished. The police-backed task force discovered over 300 pieces of arms and ammunition during the operation.
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To what end do these people steal, kill, and destroy because of the flimsiest of excuses? It can’t be normal! Men, women, and children were killed, and butchered! I am scarred for life. Those images can not be unseen, yet we all should see them so that we recognize that hell is empty and all the dammed souls are wreaking havoc on us! 300 pieces of arms and ammunition were discovered right behind my office building!
I walk home through the now-demolished shanty stalls! I could’ve been caught in the violence if they decided to use those arms and ammunition one of the days I walked through that mini shanty town! Violence has always been a tool for politicians. When there is instability; the will of the ruling class will reign supreme. So I blame the political class which has all the paraphernalia of government at its disposal but somehow allows these mass murders to take place on their watch.
From all indications, these killings are yet to abate. When we feel they can’t possibly do more they strike. It will be instructive to have a mindset of ‘self-defence it’ll be foolhardy to take up arms too (it's against the law and it’ll only beget more violence) yet be aware of signs of trouble and know what to do in volatile situations is vital to survival. It’s a terrible thought to consider particularly because we are in our communities right in our country.
But this is what it has come to. Those in Allepo too didn’t call for that much strife but it happened to them. While we pray against war and strife, we should watch and pray. The operational word is WATCH. I sincerely want to love this country, I do, but I hate it at the same time.
The Super Eagles will be playing Argentina again on the 26th of June 2018. We will support them in our usual way, we will forget our sorrows and ignore our politicians too. We will cheer and celebrate as Nigeria wins (hopefully) but then I hope we will not wake up to another round of senseless murders.
First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist
Then they came for the trade unionist, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.
Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller was a German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor during the Nazi reign in World War 2 Germany.
May God give those who’ve lost loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss
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