The Intimidation of the Igbos – Nigeria cannot militarize a majority ethnic group

Often, the major tests of courage is not to die, but to live.  To all loving IGBOS around the world, we cannot afford to be slaves in our fathers land, neither can we afford to be intimidated into submission. Reform must come from within, not from strangers. We are not minorities.  We are a majority ethnic group and MUST demand and (not ask) for our unchallengeable rights as a full citizens of this nation.   

By Dominic (Big-D) Ikeogu

As usual, offering my little opinion to matters about Nigeria government and governing is my rights of social involvement, and I will not stop exercising that cause. With the crisis going on in the Eastern Nigeria,  we as Igbo’s and indeed other Nigerians must step up with a demand for explanations to those we elected, and probe their level of representation.

Starting with the South East, the Igbo elected leaders; from  governors, senators, to the congress should demand  immediate answers from President Muhammadu Buhari and his federal government on the real objective of  this military exercise. Was there any imminent danger or threat to public safety that justified the latest intimidation and provocations to the Igbos? Perhaps, one would rightly think that was a retaliatory measure; to chastise a region opposed to the schismatic nature of Nigeria’s structure.  If we are seriously practicing democracy, our elected leaders should demand an inquiry and a hearing on why this operation was needed.  

It might be right to think that the undisciplined soldiers that carried out the raids in South East had mandatory orders  from “above” to indiscriminately eliminate certain citizens for protesting their concerns.  Obviously, there is no justification to intimidate Nnamdi Kanu and his group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement. With these disturbing events, my question again would be; with fierce looking solders invading his property, does Kanu have a right of self-defense? Another troubling puzzle is that these Army vandals could plant weapons inside Kanu’s property just to gather enough excuse to subdue his crusade.

The Buhari’s government remains a democratic entity, where Mr. President is answerable to the people. It is illegal and against any democratic standards to order military operations to  unarmed and defenseless children; especially where the President has a duty to protect those individuals.

I would recommend that those affected by this ordeal should file a class action lawsuit against the President, his government, and his army for illegal raids, violation of their rights, and the massacre of their citizens. In every democratic setting, citizens have a right to protest injustice, and Kanu and IPOB did just that. The entire South-South and South-East should protest from all angles, and march all the major cities of Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha , Aba and Port – Harcourt -on the same day to show solidarity and respect for democracy.

Often, the major tests of courage is not to die, but to live.  To all loving IGBOS around the world, we cannot afford to be slaves in our fathers land, neither can we afford to be intimidated into submission. Reform must come from within, not from strangers. We are not minorities.  We are a majority ethnic group and MUST demand and (not ask) for our unchallengeable rights as  full citizens of this nation.   

♦ BIG D – Dominic Ikeogu resides in Minnesota.

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