Joe Igbokwe
By Joe Igbokwe
Once again let me plead that I am writing this article as Joe Igbokwe, a native of Uruagu Nnewi in Anambra State , Nigeria and I speak strictly for myself only. I am 55 years old and a 1985 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from University of Nigeria Nsukka .
Without sounding immodest, I am an advocate for rule of law, social justice, equity and fair play. By the grace of God I was brought up to believe in the sanctity of human life, and I have lived the greater part of my life in the service to humanity. I dream humanity, I preach humanity and I talk humanity.
I am writing this second piece because I am told that a story that must be told never forgives silence. I am putting this down because history teaches us that evil triumph in any society when good men do nothing. I am writing this because I know that the greatest part of hell will be reserved to those who maintain their neutrality in times of great moral crisis. I make this intervention as it were because I know that if the world is full of misery and heart-break, pains, sickness, oppression, it is because we caused it.
Three events informed my decision to do a second piece on this issue:
I am writing this second piece because I am told that a story that must be told never forgives silence. I am putting this down because history teaches us that evil triumph in any society when good men do nothing. I am writing this because I know that the greatest part of hell will be reserved to those who maintain their neutrality in times of great moral crisis. I make this intervention as it were because I know that if the world is full of misery and heart-break, pains, sickness, oppression, it is because we caused it.
Three events informed my decision to do a second piece on this issue:
The burial of 26 victims of Boko Haram madness killed on the Christmas day at St Theresa’s Catholic Church Madalla Nigeria State.
The reactions over the Court verdict on Mr. Al-Mustapha over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola in 1996.
Now I want Nigerians to take notice that the 26 victims of Madalla massacre in Niger State were mainly people from Igbo extraction. And therefore one is compelled to run away with the thinking that the killing was planned, well executed and the victims targeted. For Mubi incident I want Nigerians to take notice of what happened in Mubi Adamawa State . An Igbo from Adazi Nnukwu in Anambra State was killed by Boko Haram and 11 of his kinsmen from the same town gathered to discuss how to take the corpse home. The same idiots went after them and killed eleven of them. Today Thursday February 2nd 2012, the 12 victims will be buried in Adazi Nnukwu, Anambra State .
Then enter the Al-Mustapha’s case. Those who witnessed the June 12 crisis between 1993 and 1998 know the role Mr. Al-Mustapha played in the sustenance of the Abacha dictatorship. Working with the likes of Col Frank Omenka, Colonel John Olu, ACP Zakari Bui, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo, SP Mohammed Rabo Lwal, Lt Col. Ibrahim, Yakassai, Lt Col. Honest I Stephens, Major Bashir Mumuni, Major Dan Asabe, Major Daramola, Major Buratai, Major Adamu Argungu, Major Ishaku, Warrant Officer II Atanda, Sergeant Rogers Meshiela, Sumaila Shuaibu, Sumaila Usman, hundreds of innocent Nigerians including Alhaja Kudirat Abiola were killed between 1993 and 1998. You may also recall that Sergeant Rogers gave copious and graphic details of how they carried out the killings during the cause of interrogation. Time and space will not permit me here to detail the atrocities of Major Al-Mustapha as Abacha’s CSO. Today some idiots and good for nothing scoundrels are asking for the murderer to be set free. I suppose they are saying this because they are not children of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Chief MKO Abiola. To make matters worse, the Northern Emirs that had kept silent on Boko Haram idiocy went into a meeting shortly after Al-Mustapha was condemned to death to fight for his release. Thank God one of their own, Mallam Shehu Sanni scolded them instantly thus: “The Emirs meeting to save Al-Mustapha is the height of political opportunism and sectionalism”.
Civil war in Nigeria is not an option. God forbid. But provocation, impunity, bloodshed can lead to war. The attack on the United Nation’s building in Abuja, the attack on Police Head quarters, and other police formations, the attack on the Air Force base in Borno, the attack on SSS office and the attack on Christians on Christmas day is an attack on the corporate existence of Nigeria as a political entity. It is an open declaration of war on Nigeria and we must see it as such.
I appeal to Nigerian leaders to rise up to the occasion. I appeal to Northern leaders to stop the hide and seek game and save the North from itself. I appeal to Southerners in the North to return home till further notice. But one more thing: The fathers of the Second Vatican Council assert that all act of indignity against human life and against person debase the perpetrators more than the victims.
I love this country and I want us to sustain this country because we are better united but this national shame, this national embarrassment must stop. Yes this country is better united but you are not going to sustain it by the blood of a section of the country.
Northern elders should stop playing the hide and seek game. An Igbo proverb says an elder dies when he sees something wrong and fails to talk about it and a young man dies also who would not listen to the words or elders. When elders are not at home children may wear snakes and call them necklaces.
No comments:
Post a Comment