It’s really not OK at all. While the rest of us are free, living our daily lives, discussing the times, the economy, corruption, Trump and Sanders and other unnecessary things, 200 Nigerians have been languishing in jail in Kaduna for the past 62 days. You may think you are free, but we are only as free as the weakest of us. We are only as safe as the meekest of us. We are only as happy as the frailest of us. Those in jail illegally are our weakest link.
You may hate Shia Muslims. But there is no reason why a Nigerian youth like me and you who has a family, has plans, goals and ideals, school to go to and mouths to feed, should be locked up and denied his constitutional rights of council, bail and family visitation and freedom. Is this how we wish to make converts of them assuming we dislike them due to their “weird” faith? Is this how our own God taught us to behave?
In the court appearance yesterday the army initiated what has been called dangerous trumped-up charges on them. The army said they had deadly weapons. When asked to produce this, the army allegedly said the weapons are in Lagos. Everything is not ok. The army is ready to destroy these Nigerians forever to save its face. If it was a confrontation then why is the army not in jail too pending resolution? Is one citizen more special than another?
Everything is not OK. Buratai and Buhari are dancing. This does not bother them. The majority Sunnite sect north dislikes these large minority. Buhari is traveling around, not even thinking of these people. He is getting his health check-up. He is thinking about headache, indigestion; little things. Do you know what it is like to be locked up in jail for a day, a week, two months? We know the rights of citizens. Everyone is eligible for bail in 2 days. Then you prepare for your case in court. Innocent till proven guilty. Where is our humanity? What if we were walking on Sokoto road and got caught in the web by accident; we ran into Husainiyyah complex to seek refuge when we heard the initial gunshots from the army killing the stick and stone wielding protesters. Is this how we will like to be forgotten, unable to return to school, to our families and friends, to our lives of something and times of freedom for nothing as we choose?
Everything is not OK, Nigeria. I do not know what to do. I am thinking of protesting as a one man protest, I want to shout, I want to write to the ICC, Obama, UN, I do not know what to do. I know I have to do something because it may be me tomorrow and even if not, I feel like I am the one in there and everything is not OK at all. People in there voted for Buhari. People in there have not even cried with their families over lost ones; some left little children alone in the outside world. I do not give a damn about Saudi. I don’t give a rat behind about Iran. This is about Nigerians. This is about our people. This is about human beings who deserve justice. Who simply deserve their rights under the stipulations of the law. They have been held illegally for two months. In any other country they will be compensated and people will go down for this. This is not change. This is evil. It is this neglect and evil we did in the past that made God curse us with Boko Haram. Are we not tired of God’s wrath? Do you think God likes this? Do you “fanatic” see this as us giving them punishment on God’s behalf? So we are now God? Did God not say that He could have made us all one faith and that He will decide between us on our faiths and who is right and who is wrong?
I have seen mass graves. People cannot even find and bury their dead. Is this who we are? Nigeria, think oh and decide what you can do because everything is not OK and God will ask us.
Dr. Peregrino Brimah @EveryNigerian
