By Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
The decision of the Federal Government to provoke violence in the name of pacifying the agitations in the South Eastern Region of Nigeria is not only abnormal but must be condemned. Even more appalling is its ill thought-out excuse that the army was on a routine ‘show of force’ parade, but on residential of Civilians? Ridiculous! The government must truly have a less than average view of the sensibilities and awareness level of the watching public and the world.
Across the world, one group or another have at one time had pressing issues conceived as deprivation that led to different forms of agitations. These agitations were treated with reconciliatory intents by the government in the home country of this group and not necessarily as voices of dissent to be crushed like termites. Just like these other groups, the Igbos also have the same right to express their resentment to what they perceive as injustice against their persons in Nigeria, a right to be heard out and amicably pacified.
To set the record straight, the people of Catalonia in Spain have been at the forefront of secession for some years. Just some few days ago, there were rallies that attracted the gathering of millions of separatists. The government of Spain did not resort to killing these agitators, nor abuse or restrain their right to express their conceived ideals. Right from the get-go it was apparent that the Spanish government viewed these agitators as one part of the Spanish whole to be accorded due attention and response. In Europe, Britain only recently voted to exit the European Union, even as Scotland negotiated its secession from Great Britain itself. It is interesting to note how Great Britain, the progenitor of Nigeria as a country, responded to this secessionists calls and how Nigeria seem stuck in the facade of its non-negotiable terms of existence.
Initially, the Federal Government took the path of sanity by taking Nnamdi Kanu the acclaimed leader of IPOB to court, the process of litigation is presently ongoing and any matter in Court cannot be solved elsewhere. It is unlawful and vicious for the Federal Government to deviate from the legal process and engage in a show of shame all in the name of quenching the agitations.
The attack against the unarmed civilians in Abia State is not only an insult to the rights of human; it is also opprobrium to the nomenclature of this country as a nation among the comity of nations.
The attacks on unarmed civilians cannot be justified regardless of how tense the situation is. The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari will be held responsible for every single life lost as a result of illegal operation of Nigeria army.
As a matter of fact, the activities of the Army in the South East are a frustration that can provoke aggression from the victims. This country has had enough of bloodshed to be engaging in an escapade that is heinous and inimical to our existence.
The employment of army personnel and weaponry to police is a military era heritage that one hope should have been stopped in a democratic dispensation. It is unlawful and an open declaration of war against fellow Nigerians. There could be no greater act of treason than this.
This confederation of absurdity must be brought to heel before the law and due process. The Federal Government is reminded that the leading objective should be reconciling the east and reintegrating them into a new economic and political framework that quickens and dispels their fear of marginalization. Nigeria belongs to Nigerians and the Igbos are as much Nigerian as a Fulani, Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe, or the other beautiful tribes that gives Nigeria its unique diversity.
Let it be abundantly clear that if the Federal Government fails to stop this madness as a matter of urgency, they will be dragged to International Criminal Court for state terrorism and gross violation of fundamental human right. The Civil Society Groups in Nigeria must and should rally together as we take the government to task on their complicity in the violence rocking the eastern lands. This insanity must stop for humanity sake and the future of this country.
