The better question might be where are Nigerians especially Nigeria editors in print, radio, television and Internet Services. Where are other Nigerians in legal, political and social media? Where are Nigerians as Mr. Nnamdi Kanu languishes in police custody? Does he eat (he had said that he would not eat federal government food)? Does he have access to attorneys? Is he healthy? Does his family have access to him? Does his employers have access? Is he in President Muhammadu’s Archipelago? Where are the internet warriors of yore? Or of now?
So many questions. So few answers
- First they came for the AIT TV and denied them access, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a public television reporter.
- Then they came to dump terrorist in SE/SS, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not living is SE/SS.
- Then they came for the Indigenous People of Biafra Movement (IPOBM), and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a person of Biafra.
- Then they came for MASSOB members, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not into MASSOB business.
- Then they came for the Radio Biafra, to shut it down and suppress its voice and I did not speak out—
Because I was in print and in internet and on TV not in radio,
- Then they came for Nnamdi Kanu, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not into Radio Biafra or any Biafran business.
- Then they came and arrested those demonstrating against the arrest of the editor Nnamdi Kanu, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a an editor and did not believe in the gospel.
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- Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
This is how these kinds of events start; very gradually and then grow. Those of us who were old enough in 1967 can see similarities: street demonstrations in Enugu, PH, Aba, Calabar, Onitsha, etc. in what is now SE/SS. Does PMB remember? Is he encouraging it? Does he want to re-fight this ancient war in the belief that he would get to the Final Solution?
Only the future will tell
Written by Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba.