It was the legendary Othman Dan Fodio that said that “conscience is an open wound, and only truth can heal it”. A common saying goes that if you speak the truth, you will die and if you don’t speak the truth you will also die, so it is better to speak the truth and die. All the religions in this country including traditional worship profess to anchor their teachings on truth.
Surprisingly, our country is populated by a majority who belong to religious group that shuns the truth. It is even worse speaking the truth to power and this is the reason leadership at all levels have drifted because people are afraid of confronting bad governance with the naked reality, saying it as it is. It is also acknowledged that, “speak the truth and rebuild the nation” but we appear to choose the reverse option as a nation.
In the past we have had some human rights activists confront the leaders on ugly developments and policies that impact negatively on the populace. In the past we have had very active students union take bold steps to challenge some unpopular government issues. There are no more Gani Fawehinmi’s, Chima Ubani’s, etc. We only have the Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the lone ranger, shooting from both sides of his lips, shouting against injustice.
Nigerians it seems love life so much. Nigerians cherish the moment and would rather not fight for the future. One of the reasons we have unprecedented level of unemployment and consequential high crime rate is because we preferred to squander yesterday and never planned for today. This is why we are caught napping each time for challenges that may have never cropped up if we know anything called planning.
It is so sad that we do not think of the future generations that will succeed us. We are only selfishly mindful of today as if tomorrow will never come and this is the major reason our leaders have become so reckless with their style. We have pretentiously carried on perhaps waiting for miracles, reason we have failed to tell ourselves the truth.
Another reason it was gathered people are afraid to speak the truth to power is for the fear of being killed by vexatious leaders who do not want to be challenged. Besides, many people especially those in leadership position fear for loss of favour and to protect their position. While they remain silent those they claim to represent in power also die in silence.
It is on account of the above that we commend the speech by Benue State governor condemning the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the atrocities committed by Fulani herders all over the country which is now threatening the unity of the country.
The Fulani according to him has accepted responsibility in the rape, maiming, killing and destruction of lives and properties in some places yet they are walking free even with their leadership at Abuja.
He queried why the federal government has remained silent and wanting to know when they will bring them to book for their actions. In his words, “are we second class citizens in this country? What makes a Fulani man superior to others? Are we their slaves? He reminded that the Fulani herders had continually flouted the police rule to surrender fire arms yet they are walking free bearing arms.
News Echo wishes to admonish the governors from the South East to take a cue from Ortom and draw the attention of the federal government to the marginalization and irregularities committed by it rather than their slavish adherence to the policies. We challenge the Igbo governors who each time recoil to their shells anytime their kits and kin suffer from one deprivation, killing or another.
The southeast is not spared the agony of the same ills that Ortom is crying about but their silence gives them out as comfortable with the sufferings of their people. It is in the southeast that the soldiers invaded Umuahia to kill IPOB boys in the home of Nnamdi Kanu. September last year over 20 Igbo youths were murdered in cold blood at Enugu. The zone has been under siege of military and police checkpoints that extort money from road users.
We frown at some of these issues and call on the governors to open their mouth and defend their people. They have been variously accused of playing the good boys role to Abuja and seeking to protect themselves against any confrontation by the powers that be. Their silence only confirms whatever is levied against them.
