Onitsha Massacre: The Dangerous Silence Of Gov Obiano

By Osondu Nwike

Governance in a democratic dispensation is primarily meant to protect the governed among other responsibilities. The relationship between the leader and the led does not start and end with canvassing for votes at which time the leader dines and dances with the common man.

Governor Willy Obiano's silence and inactivity on now two pronounced massacres in Onitsha is dangerous not only on his insensitivity on the lives of Igbo people but on the troubling suspicion on who the real enemies of the Igbo people are. It is Biblical, dating to the days of Esau and Jacob that for a porridge, one can mortgage his rights. Has Obiano played along for his porridge at Abuja?. It is a known fact that after the 1st Onitsha massacre, the governor of the city where the dastardly act took place did not visit any of the wounded neither did he make out time to show concern to the families of the victims nor condemned the act in strong terms.

Yesterday, 17th of December, 2015, about 8 unarmed Igbos marching towards the Niger Bridge head were killed by the soldiers while over 13 were wounded. The most disturbing part of this second massacre is the allegation that same soldiers abducted the bodies of the killed and made away with them.

Gov. Obiano must set politics aside and act as the protector of his people. Anambra people and the rest of Nigerians resident in Onitsha must be seen by the governor as part of his responsibility to protect and care no matter the association, religion and status they represent.

It is on record that the governor of Kaduna State, in company of the IGP and the Minister of Interior visited the Shiite leader, expressing concern and love for the people no matter what may have transpired and that is the expectation of Anambra people, that is the expectation of the Igbos, that is the expectation of IPOB, that is the expectation of MOSSOB and that is the expectation of Nigerians.

In the Zaria incident, the Amnesty International, British High Commissioner and many others issued statements condemning the massacre but in Onitsha massacres, non even acknowledged such occurrences. The reason being that the leadership of the State did not even acknowledge it in the first instance. Collaborators, silent conspirators and other elements of that nature are always identifiable in societies but when it involves lives, it becomes dangerous for leaders to be silent.

- The Nigerian Voice 

Nigeria: A Government Of Sadists!

By Femi Fani-Kayode

On the night of 12th December 2015 in the city of Zaria, Kaduna state, Sheik El Zakzaky, the leader of the 10 million-strong Shia muslim community in Nigeria, was shot, brutalized and dumped in a wheelbarrow. He barely escaped with his life but sadly, according to Iranian government sources and the New York Times, his wife, two of his sons and no less than one thousand of his shia muslim followers were not so lucky.

*Femi-Fani-Kayode 

They were massacred in the sanctity of their homes that night by members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Up until the time that I am writing this essay not one word of regret or remorse has been expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Armed Forces or the Federal Government about the whole incident.

That alone speaks volumes but what is more important to note is the fact that this is one of the most brutal and callous events in the history of our country. It was premeditated, well-planned, well-orchestrated and well-executed. Homes were bombed and burnt to the ground and innocent and defenseless men, women and children were slaughtered in an unrelenting frenzy of violence.

 After the carnage the bodies of the victims were left in the compound of the houses and in the streets and gutters for carrion birds to feed on and for street urchins and petty thieves to rob. This was indeed a sordid and shameful chapter: it was not only mass murder but it was also a crime against humanity. Those that were murdered were targeted simply because they were Shia Muslims and simply because, earlier in the day, some of them had mounted a road block which obstructed the convoy of the General Burutai, the Chief of Army Staff.

It is very clear that by this act alone the Chief of Army Staff, under whose orders these men were acting, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, and every single officer and soldier that took part in the massacre are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and are therefore candidates for the International Criminal Court at the Hague. Our leaders must be accountable and it is my fervent prayer and desire that the whole matter ends up there and that both Buhari and Burutai are called to justice.