My confusion - WHAT IS GOING ON ????.................................................
I know Nigeria has always had its share of challenges BUT this violence is just spiraling out of control.
Since January 2010, Boko Haram has been at the heart of so many atrocities. This year alone, they have been behind several attacks - including a car bomb attack on the Police HQ; a bomb blast at a bar near an Abuja barracks. Needless to say, innocent lives have been lost
Surprisingly, it seems that whenever the perpetrators are even caught, they are killed instantly. How will we ever get to the root of all this if those who can reveal more - are killed as soon as they are captured?
Some may feel the best way to deal with Nigeria's challenges is to pretend they dont exist. I beg to differ. Even if I am not a politician, my conscience dictates I must speak/rant/cry........................whatever.
The Irish philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) once said - 'All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing'
While I pray for God to intervene in Nigeria's future; I also pray that those who are in a position to stop this violence do not adopt the principle of 'See no Evil; Hear no Evil and Speak no Evil'If they do, the repercussions will be disastrous.
The poem below by Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) was originally written about the failure of German intellectuals to condemn Nazi rise to power.
I do believe the poem totally encapsulates what happens when evil is allowed to take root in any society:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist,
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak for me
*sigh* Please have a blessed week
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Uhm...I still cant understand why on earth those people are still able to keep the citizens in mental captivity. Too much politics is at play. My sister and I still had this discussion yesterday. In spite of all the jazz wey we dey form say we get.....kpinisin Boko Haram still dey harass us for this duration of time. God dey sha. All those people wey bin sit on top power, dey watch as these things dey happen and nor do anything to curtail am...God dey watch all of them
ReplyDeleteThat poem really says it all. We must speak out especially now. Honestly i'm also confused. There are too many twisted stories around the whole thing including politics, tribal, religion, etc. Right now, like your poem rightly said, all that matters is that those in authority to do something shouldn't keep mute. It may not affect them today but no one knows tomorrow. But God forbid that it even gets worse than this.
ReplyDeleteIt's really unfortunate what's going on, and I don't think the government is reacting as strongly as it out to knowing that we're dealing with terrorism. May the souls of the dead rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteit's so sad & i dnt think GEJ can lead Nigeria in this troubling time. I'm tired of hearing stories like this :(
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the situation in Nigeria. It's certainly up to the masses to try and say or do something otherwise the situation just escalates. That poem hit the nail in the head. I hope and pray peace will prevail in this situation.
ReplyDeleteUhhhmmm, the poem is so simple, yet passes the message across
ReplyDeleteThe problem with most Nigerians, especially government is that we are always reactive, instead of being proactive. It is when bad things happen, that we react and start talking and then a month later, everything dies down and we all forget till the next bad thing happens.
Its time for us to switch from being reactive to being proactive and start taking actions so that when unforeseen events want to happen, we are ready for them.
I will still do a post on this sometime soon, but not now. In the mean time, all I can say is uuhhhhmmmm
our problem in nigeria like you said is that we ve decided to close our eyes to the evil and its too sad cos we dont know whos next. we will keep praying and hoping this will stop
ReplyDelete@NIL, thanks for speaking out. Unfortunately not many people are speaking out about real issues facing Nigeria. But this bombing is only a symptom of deeper underlying problems facing the failed arrangement called Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteEverything you see happening is deeply rooted in politics, greed and corruption that we have failed to address in the last 50 years. We often pretend that all is well in Nigeria but it isn't and the signs keep manifesting itself all the time. I'm worried because in a short time our collective short memory will get the better of us, waiting for the next bomb to explode and become very reactive once again like @ilola mentioned.
This is very unfortunate, extremely sad and it's actually pissing me off. My question is "who is behind Boko Haram", no one can stand up to tell me it's just a whole bunch of ignoramus northerners, no freaking way. there is a political backing for these people, a very strong one, until we understand the motivation behind their actions, we will not find a way to stop them.
ReplyDeletePowerful poem. what is happening in Nigeria is very distressing. I hope those who are in position to tackle the problem do so immediately and effectively, otherwise we are doomed.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I don't have confidence in our government's ability to stop Boko Haram or whatever their name is. Whatever our govt do, I hope they get our young men and women first, before the terrorist groups lure them into terrorism.
its so sad to see things like this happening in your Sister Country. My prayers are with you; and hopefully this will lead to those in power sitting up and doing something.
ReplyDeletePerpetrators caught? where?
ReplyDeleteThe authorities only promise to 'get to the root of these' they never really commence digging yet alone get to the root.
Its sad and at this point one cannot even tell what the real issues are, one thing is sure though, these illiterate sect are financed by certain unscrupulous bigwigs that is enough clue for a proactive Anti-crime squad but hey, do we have one in this part???
A very sad reality. Problem is people think talking or rallying against the problems and issues will get them in trouble. We forget that keeping quiet is actually permitting the issues to go on, fester and ultimately explode.
ReplyDeleteSeriously that poem is something. They just believe that they can spend money and tighten their security and not worry about finding a solution to this? Like do they think everything will just fade away?
ReplyDeleteMay God help Nigeria and I really pray that the people that matter will stop being cowards and just act!
that poem says it all,I don't know whether they don't know that one day they'll come for them and their families,they think they can run.
ReplyDeleteWe pray for the peace of our own Jerusalem -Nigeria-... BTW: Who are the Boko Haramite? For now,only a few know I guess. That poem is DEEP...hmmmmm
ReplyDeleteI can only pray for Nigeria,its beyond us at the moment(there's too much wickedness in the land) and God can heal the land that I know!!!
I pray it doesn't get to the last stage of the poem before they wake up and do something about it. Because by then it will be too late for soooo many people. Kmt. Our country needs prayer now more than ever before. God help us.
ReplyDeleteHmm... That poem is deep. I feel like I'm being spoken to directly but apart from condemning it verbally, what else can I/we do???
ReplyDeleteI guess you didnt hear your president tell the world that 'terrorism is plaguing the world and it seems like this time, it is the turn of Nigeria'...like all nations are on a queue waiting turn by turn to be bombed. GEJ is just incapable!! hopefully since UN is involved, maybe they'll send some spies or detectives or something cause really, if left to the Nigerian govt, they have no plans to get to the bottom. oko haram grants radio interviews, contacts press by phone, and yet they cant trace them? gimme a break. I dont even want to believe this is BokoH per se, some bigger boy is using them. or maybe terrorists are.
ReplyDeleteMztizzle, it might not look like much, but if you visit God;uck's facebook page today, they are hundreds still writing mesgaes like 'dont mind your detractors, we know you are working hard'. smh
i hope peace prevails soon....the world is a cruel place indeed....
ReplyDeleteThe whole bloodshed and killing is totally unnecessary and very sad... I pray it doesnt get out of hand before the government and police takes a rigid stand on it...
ReplyDeleteits really sad...like these BH people have become the forces in naija..God pass them! As for GEJ, he doesn't seem to realize the enormity of this issue. His comments on issues like this are always heart-breaking
ReplyDeleteNigeria needs helping hand, I mean it when I say it does. I can't just believe it that the country's bestiality is fast graduating to terrorism and suicide-bombing. True, we really need to start speaking out.
ReplyDeleteI love the poem - it's so poignant. it's almost like we loose a bit of what makes us human when we can't speak or act against and injustice, because we're not affected by it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the reality is, even though most leaders start their careers caring for the people, the nature of the job teaches them to prioritise the needs of people and slowly they grow cold hearted and unresponsive. I hope none of the leaders have to suffer a personal loss at the hands of terrorist before they do something to prevent it.
the poem is just #gbam!#
ReplyDeleteboth political & religious motivated in my opinion
underground investigation might be going on, which is yet to be made public for obvious reasons
but i believe the same GOD that protected & freed the children of Isreal from oppression, would do same for NIGERIA...souls of teh departed rest in peace and GOD gives the bereaved the strength to pull through..amen :(
@HoneyDame
ReplyDeleteI hear you re: God dey sha.
That is my only consolation
Thanks dear
@stelzz
I am as confused as you
As you said, God forbid that it even gets worse than this..............and then Jos started this week again *sigh*
@Myne Whitman
I agree with you re:' I don't think the government is reacting as strongly as it ought to..........'
I pray we dont lose more souls to this chaos
Thanks
@kitkat
Like you....' I'm tired of hearing stories like this'
This week alone, someone in my state got kidnapped + the Jos riots again
I truly am confused!
Thanks dear
@ Gospel Girl
Thanks for the kind words.
I pray all this shall pass
xoxoxo
@ilola
I hear you re: 'we are always reactive, instead of being proactive'
The problem is that the government is not even reactive !!!!
Thanks dear
@Luciano
RE: '.. we ve decided to close our eyes to the evil' I agree
It seems like we have come to accept evil in our midst!
Thanks
@Naija4Life
I hear you re: '... the failed arrangement called Nigeria'
I dont know what it will take us to come together and demand change
Thanks sir
@9jaFOODie
ReplyDeleteThe big question "who is behind Boko Haram" needs quick answers ..........................or our dear country is going to know no peace.
*sigh*
@ Prism
ReplyDeleteI hear you re: 'I don't have confidence in our government's ability to stop Boko Haram or whatever their name is'
I'm sure many feel the same way
Thanks sis
@ Miss Insomnia
Thanks so much for the kind words
Hope all is well with you
xoxoxoxo
@ P.E.T
*Nodding* re: '.... they never really commence digging yet alone get to the root'
I really despair
Thanks dear
@os
I hear you re: 'keeping quiet is actually permitting the issues to go on, fester and ultimately explode'
My thoughts exactly
I noticed that quite a few 'rebels' in Libya were returnee Libyans living abroad.........Humph
I pray Nigeria will be free of this 'bondage of chaos' *sigh*
Thanks
@MsJB
I feel you re: ' I really pray that the people that matter will stop being cowards and just act!'
Hear Hear
Thank my sis
@gretel
Gbam re: '.....that one day they'll come for them and their families'
Karma is a bitch !!!!
Thanks my sister
@enybees-hub
Glad you liked the poem
I hear you re: 'there's too much wickedness in the land) and God can heal the land that I know!!!'
I am positive also...but I pray more of us do the right thing....instead of accepting all this rubbish
Thanks and God bless
xxx
@ Ms.Buki
ReplyDeleteI hear you re: 'Our country needs prayer now more than ever before'
These are really trying times
Thanks
@mstizzle
Re: ' what else can I/we do???'
I would say always speak the truth and condemn what is wrong
So long as we have breath we should speak - and try to do what is right
Hard I know.......but our conscience demands it
xoxoxoxo
@Ginger
I heard later...re: 'terrorism is plaguing the world and it seems like this time, it is the turn of Nigeria'
I guess as car accidents are common, we should all lie down in the middle of the motorway! Humph!
I hear you re: 'bigger boys'
Nothing can remain hidden forever sha
Thanks my sis
xoxoxox
@Chintan
Thanks for your kind words
Hope all is well
xoxoxox
@deolascope
I agree re: ' I pray it doesnt get out of hand before the government and police takes a rigid stand on it'
I dread thinking about such bombings in Lagos
mmm
Thanks
@Vyvyka
I hear you re: 'His comments on issues like this are always heart-breaking'
Heart breaking is the only way to describe it
We deserve better
Thanks sis
@Strong Self
*Nodding* re: ' the country's bestiality is fast graduating to terrorism and suicide-bombing'
We are slowly losing what makes us civilized
Thanks my brother
@ msluffa
Glad you liked the poem
True talk re: ' it's almost like we loose a bit of what makes us human when we can't speak or act against and injustice, because we're not affected by it'
Well said
Thanks my sister
@Ibhade
*mouth open* re: 'the poem is just #gbam!#'
I'm so glad you are liking poems now :))
I agree re:'both political & religious motivated in my opinion'
A BIG AMEN TO YOUR PRAYERS
Evil can never go unpunished
Amen oh!
sometimes you speak and you speak and you feel like it makes no eeffect and eventualy without wanting to you find yourself seeing it as the 'norm'.
ReplyDeleteOther countries are being terrorised, we are terrorising ourselves! Does that make any sense?