Some years ago, when Boko Haram insurgency was at its peak in North East Nigeria, sacking villages, detonating bombs in markets, mosques and churches, killing children, women and elderly and forcefully conscripting innocent youths into its fold, many of our fellow citizens in the other parts of the country were feeling so unconcerned. The reason for their lack of concern is very clear; they thought the violence is a northern affair that would never get to their parts. These people made it clear to all that they do not care about the innocent lives being lost in North East. It doesn’t matter if more than 20,000 people are gruesomely killed and over 2million are displaced, they just didn’t care, they said.
During the same period and in the most disheartening manner, people who showed serious concern about the suffering of the people of North East were blackmailed and shamed. People like Madam Oby Ezekwesili and others like her, who are known defenders of human dignity, are constantly bashed and maligned, not for doing anything wrong, but for speaking out for victims of inhumanity. We made it look like demanding dignity for a person is a sin, and those who do so, sinners.
However, just few years later, the Biafran issue became a major source of security concern in South East Nigeria and living became very difficult for a lot of people. While the agitators were making life hell for some sections of the populace on one hand, the security agencies were also doing the same at the other end. From North East, the concern for insecurity shifted eastward and a lot of people who may be part of those earlier mocking and demeaning the victims of the North East, are also calling for help. Who will help save humanity, they cried. But unfortunately, no one responded.
Furthermore, as if that was not enough, the train of violence visited the Middle Belt region, where organized killers who disguise as herdsmen are spreading sorrow, tears and blood. Human life has become so meaningless, not just to the killers, but also to us the observers. Accusations and counter-accusations are traded over the media, yet the killing sprees continue. Do we really care? For a moment, let us sit back and reflect about our attitude towards each other and ask salient questions such as, ‘what would have happened, if we had genuinely shown the people of North East more love, care and concern without considering their tribes and religion’?
What would have happened, if we collectively embraced the South East without minding their political decisions and speak out for their concerns and interest? In my opinion, our old manner of engaging each other has brought us here and has brought us pain and discontent, it is now time we turn a new leaf and start showing care and concern, genuinely. We must all care because we belong to each other. Our sufferings are the same, even though we get our share of the pains at different times.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio over allegation of financial crimes. Daily Trust gathered that Akpabio honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to explain allegations of looting of the state’s funds during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent that Senator Akpabio was being interrogated late yesterday evening at the Abuja head offices of the Commission. He was spotted at the EFFC office in company of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at about 5:20pm. Akpabio’s arrest yesterday is fallout of the petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who had on June 8 this year petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Senator Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting. The petitioner had earlier on Wednesday adopted his petition and provided more details to the anti-graft agency on the allegations against the minority leader of People...
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