By Eneruvie Enakoko
Over the last few days, since the terror acts in Paris,
France; that left over 120 dead, and the subsequent symbolic Paris Flag idea
elevated by Facebook to support and stand with France, which I bought into;
many of my fellow citizens through the Phone and on Social Media have
questioned me on the wisdom of my path, asking me if the over 120 dead in
France are more important than the thousands that have been killed by Boko
Haram in Nigeria, thus calling into question my character and patriotism for my
country.
I have tried to make a few of them that I consider as friends to
understand that those of us in Nigeria and around the World showing symbolic
acts of support for France are doing so borne out of the belief in our shared
humanity, and that such symbolic acts does not in anyway mean that the Paris
tragedy takes precedence over Nigeria's Green-White-Green's thousands. And when
they persist in their strongly held-views, I made it clear to them that I
cannot see how a Nigerian symbolic show of support to the French people over
the terror acts on their soil detracts, diminishes or reduces the Nigerian
support for his fellow countrymen who have been victims of Boko Haram terror
acts; neither do I understand from their queries, how such a simple support
from a Nigerian for France over the terror acts there, makes the Nigerian any
less a Nigerian or any less a patriot. What happened to our common humanity?
I
really do not see the basis for comparison. I went on to tell them that if they
truly know me well enough, then I need not remind them of the fact that nobody
in my generation and age bracket in the last seven years has so spoken, written
and campaigned against the injustices and grave security issues in this country
more than I have done. Whether as the then Chairman of the Civil Liberties
Organisation (CLO) in Lagos, Nigeria; or as an Independent Journalist and a Media
and Technology Consultant, or in my innumerable collaborations with other
like-minded groups, I have worked tirelessly for peace, justice and equality in
Nigeria. I worked for the security and peace of this country at the heart of
the onerous Niger Delta issue, and I have done so, and still doing so in the
Boko Haram issue which is an issue that I believe is clearly politically
motivated, not to mention the numerous other issues that I have worked on to
achieve justice, freedom and equality for Nigerians.
And that regardless of how
some may live in denial, I honestly believe I have paid my dues, and I am still
paying my dues and playing my part in whichever way I can for my country, and
that if everyone of us would sincerely play his or her part, perhaps, Nigeria
would have the needed change. So I do not see how my deep involvement in the
Freedom and Human Rights Struggle in Nigeria should prevent me or indeed any
other Nigerian (Irrespective of whether they are committed to the struggle or
not) from giving moral support to the French people or any other people in any
part of the globe facing terror acts and other violent attacks, simply because
Nigeria is grappling with its own terror acts too.
Having lain down this groundwork, and in the face of such
tragic misconception, I deem it critically important to crystallize and state
my personal philosophy and Worldview, and why I believe France and every other
nation facing terror acts or any other crisis should be supported by all; as
well as talk about some of the crucial issues that I believe we should be
concentrating our efforts on in Nigeria.
First, I consider myself as not just a Nigerian but a
World Citizen; I don't only care deeply about what happens in Nigeria, I am
also deeply concerned about whatever happens around other parts of the World.
My loyalty is ecumenical rather than sectional; it transcends the narrow
confines of Nigeria to the broader concerns of humanity. Therefore, whatever
happens in France and elsewhere in the globe concerns me, and I fully believe
that Nigerians and other World Citizens must not just be occupied about the
provincial concerns of their respective nations, but be equally occupied about
the broader concerns of the global community; although I absolutely concede
that this is seldom the case, as we saw in the response that followed the
terror acts that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon just hours before the Paris
attacks; but we must aspire to higher values. We must increasingly aspire to
our oneness, our common sense of humanity and purpose. And truly, this is how
the God of the Universe has structured the World, for as the Scriptures tell
us, "Out of one blood, he has made all Nations of Men to dwell on the face
of the earth - Acts 17: 26".
Second, aside the fact that France and its allies are at
the moment supporting our country’s efforts to combat Boko Haram, we must not
in a hurry forget how the World stood with Nigeria when the Chibok School Girls
were abducted by Boko Haram, even as there were those in Nigeria who sincerely
believed and they still do that the abduction was a hoax, a ruse and a part of
the grand campaign to destroy the previous government politically. And we know
that it was because someone created the Twitter hashtag, #Bringbackourgirls,
that eventually made the World (Including France and notable World Leaders) to
pick up that hashtag and make it famous. Who then questioned why they supported
Nigeria, even as some in this country questioned why the Chibok Girls should be
singled out among many thousands that have previously been killed?
The point
here is that the World stood with Nigeria in that dark part of our recent
history, and that might not have been possible had somebody not popularized the
Campaign with that hashtag and photo of #Bringbackourgirls, in the same way
that the idea of the symbolic act and show of support for France was furthered
by Facebook. And I believe that if others have been coming up with such smart
ideas as this following such tragic occurrences in their various countries, the
World would pick it up too and stand with them.
Let us as Nigerians resist the
temptation of uncoordinated and knee-jerk reactions in times like this, as some
Nigerians are now doing with the sudden Green-White-Green Symbol to show
solidarity with Nigeria because someone else came up with the idea of that of
France, or as some in other parts of the World are doing with the complaints
that this World Leader or that World Leader didn’t respond to the attacks in
their countries the way they are responding to that of France. It would make
better sense to me if someone had thought up of that idea earlier so that we
won't be seen by the World as copycats and those that fall into the trap of
knee-jerk reactions in "Others moments of grief". Still, I supported
and even shared one of such Green-White-Green Symbol of our flag, initiated by
someone I consider a brother, on my Facebook timeline regardless of the motive
because I believe we should support any good for our nation.
Third, the vexed issue of Boko Haram has assumed the
proportions it is now because of the political undertones therein; it has been
heavily politicized to the point where it is now a monstrous octopus. Those who
in recent times advocated Amnesty for Boko Haram are those in Government today.
They used it as a Campaign Tool then, and even opposed the previous Government
characterization of the acts of Boko Haram as Treasonable acts; yet they won
the election, and they are now in Government today, and are even denying their
numerous Campaign Promises now. Just last Saturday, I was on "Inspiration
fm" Talk Radio Programme in Ibadan, Oyo State by Phone, discussing the new
Ministerial Appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari; and there were
those who were vehemently opposed to me because I said the Minister from Oyo
State, Adebayo Shittu was not fit to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria because he had said during the Senate Confirmation Hearings that he
cannot comment on Boko Haram because he does not want to die yet, and that he
still has a family to care for.
Yet, the Nigerian Senate saw nothing wrong with
that statement and still went ahead to confirm his Nomination; and the
President and his Party saw nothing wrong with it either, and the Man is now
the substantive Minister of Communication. So, what would he be doing as
Minister if he cannot talk about Boko Haram because of fear for his life and
family? If he cannot talk about Boko Haram; what about the gallant Nigerian
troops and the brave Regional Coalition that are on the front-lines waging the
battle against Boko Haram? Don't they too have families to cater for, or are
their lives not worth anything? What about those of us, including countless
smart Nigerian Journalists who speak, write and campaign against Boko Haram
daily? Don't we also have families, and are our lives not equally important?
Today the economy is clearly down and on a visible recession, and fuel scarcity
and queues are back on our national life; another dark cloud that characterized
our nation, all as a result of a lack of a clear-cut policy of this Government.
The anticorruption war is gradually developing cold feet also. These are the
crucial issues that I believe we as Nigerians should be concentrating our
energies on, and not whether any of us show simple symbolic acts of support for
France or not.
In the final analysis, I restate my full conviction that
Nigeria will not change from the parlous state it is in now, if we as Nigerians
don’t re-examine our attitudes and change our approach to issues. Pointing
fingers and labelling one another as "Wailing Wailers" or
"Hailing Hailers" is appalling and totally reprehensible; and as an
acquaintance said on Facebook, it actually makes us to lose our objectivity to
see things as they truly are. We must therefore, frankly de-emphasize our
ethnic and religious fault-lines; reject the temptations of selfishness and
self-centredness, and candidly admit the need to urgently restructure this
country, for true compassion as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said is more than
flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces
beggar needs restructuring. And we shall overcome!
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