On saturday, 6th August 2011,while browsing on the internet to read the newspapers, an article by Sharon Faliya Cham in The Leadership newspapers caught my attention.Curiously, I clicked on the article titled ''As The Church Slept'' (5).
After reading through, all I could say to myself was ''thank you Sharon for a well written article'', as she brought out the hypocrisy of our ''religious leaders'' and followers during the last general elections.
I did not try to read the comments that accompanied the articles, as I was conviniced most fanatical followers of our ''religious leaders'' will lambast and castigate Sharon for calling a spade a spade and not by any other name.
I was tempted to search for the previous articles (1) - (4) by Sharon on the same issue but was only able to find articles (3) and (4). What happened to (1) and (2)? Anyway, articles (3), (4) and (5) delivered the messages aptly and appropriately.
I was then tempted to forward the articles to friends, other Nigerians that would have missed out on reading the articles, both at home and in diaspora.But restrained myself from so doing, so as not to start any controversy and condemnation, as most of them, knowing my political affiliation and my stand on the last general elections will brand me a GMB ''bull dog'', a ''terrorist'' and end up letting me know that ''you belong to the wrong party''.
The purpose of this write-up is, not to to give credence to the post election violence that followed the last general elections and the media hype of the killings of some Youth Corpers on national assignment. I have expressed my views on the issues at any given opportunity and even at a media interview,condemned the killings, sympathised and condoled family members of those who lost their lives and loved ones in the process.
The leadership of my Party (CPC), including GMB, condemned the kilings and violence unequivocally.
Inspite of my stand and explanations, Nigerians are gullible and will believe whatever they want to believe because of what they were instructed to do based on their ''faith'' by their ''religious leaders''. Exactly the point Sharon would want Nigerians to note.
I recommend, therefore.the articles to all ''religious leaders'' (true or false).
Therefore, taking a cue from Sharon's articles, I will title this write-up ''As the (Western) World Slept''.
On the same day (saturday), that I read Sharon's articles, the International electronic and print media informed the World of the break out of riot in Tottenham (North London) by mostly youths, in reaction to the killing of a ''local youth'' by a Police man in that community.
As I write, three or four days after, the riot has turned violent in Tottenham spreading to other cities - Birmingham, Liverpool, Croydon, Bristol Hampton, Leeds, Manchester etc and other London communities in Hackney, Camden, Ealing etc,The extent of violence and the magnitude of destruction, have never been witnessed/experienced in British history - politically or otherwise.
A certain Mr. Howe (media personality), a grandfather in Tottenham that was interviewed by the BBC TV, told the World that his grandson and son had told him long before this violence broke out, that violence was bound to break out in the area, as a result of inhuman treatment to the black youths in their community by the Police and vicariously by the British Government.
A shop owner, Mr.Duncan Reeves,probably in his 70s, whose shop was destroyed and looted, told the BBC that ''there must be something terribly wrong in the system to have allowed this to happen''.
But no one is blaming political opponents, religious sects or fundamentalism for this violence, as Nigerians are wont to do!!
However, if you watch events unfolding in Britain right now, the violence all over is spontaneous and those involved cut across British youths of all races. This tells us that, youths in Britain have seized the opportunity to vent and express their anger on the system they believe does not adequately provide for them in terms of improved economy (employment), basic needs and security.Ditto the the Tunisian revolution, which has spread through out most Arab countries.
In April 2011 in Nigeria, following the Presidential elections, northern youths, in a spontaneous reaction, took to the streets in frustration, as they believed that their mandates were subverted and stolen in the elections. They saw their hopes for a government and candidates acceptable to them, vanished before their very eyes.
At the time, the (Western) World slept, did not listen and proclaimed the elections ''free and fair''
The northern youths,rightly or wrongly,told the World that, they have been short changed.
But the (Western) World slept.
Yesterday, it was the Tunisian,Arab and Nigerian youths. Today, it is the British youths and tommorow, it can be anywhere in the World.
The Youth Revolution!!
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron has condemned the violence as criminal/criminality. Every right thinking person should condemn the violence.
However, objectively we should look at the root cause leading to the violence and establish if the cause was promptly handled. We await however, the Investigative Commission to be set up to look at all issues leading to the violence.
The governments in the Western World are always quick at lip-service, to condemn third World governments for injustice,dictatorship,corruption and underdevelopment etc., without actually holding these governments responsible for the acts. This is double standard.
The Western World governments should note that, ''an injustice anywhere (in the World) is a threat to justice everywhere ( in the World)''
Nigeria and indeed Western Countries are no exception.
Let the World beware!!
