By Ajogwu Jerry Ochada
I’m constrained to air my grievances because this is a media platform and everyone is at liberty to read todu uneke dunyi tayi oko la’n.
While we are yet to hear or read any recorded case of casualty leading to death either from Adamawa or Katsina states the origin of the two major contenders, the reverse is the case in our land. I won’t spell all that happened yesterday on my wall but it was a show of shame and gross misconduct.
We preached against electoral violence, not because we are saints but we anticipated peace in our land. Unfortunately, the bad eggs who have refused to stop smelling foul with their endless crave for violence and bloodshed preferred to dent our already battered image; we are working tirelessly to redeem our lost glories yet some sectional buffoons are on standby to disrupt our communal peace.
Political violence cannot take us to the promise land, rather those who give our brethren arms and ammunition will mock us because we lack unity. There’s no gain killing a kinsman to earn stipends from your pay masters. Any blood spilled today MUST be accounted for someday because you cannot kill a soul you don’t have powers create and go scot-free. We pray for peace in our land and I think this preaching is beyond Facebook and the social media.
Igala parents especially those living in our ancestral homes should cultivate the habit of giving orientation and reorientation to our younger ones who often fall as prey to the empty schemes of egocentric politicians.
Our ancestors were peace-loving and there is no traceable record that indicates they sold our land for the benefits of either the colonial masters or political dictators. We are not known for as sycophants, gangsters or hooligans; today so many feeble minded fellow are roaming the cyberspace and physically on the streets causing chaos and endless rancour perhaps because they cannot withstand the torture of hunger. But for how long will it continue?
Yesterday we received allegations and counter accusations of vote buying, thuggery, killings and snatching of ballot boxes in our land and pathetically our youths were the champions of this bitter tales. We equally got clue of so many charlatans impersonating as policemen to arrest and detain opponents without fear or pity. Three days ago, Comrade Austin Okai was abducted by some unknown gunmen and his whereabouts is still unknown. This is not the Kogi state of our dream.
We must all stand to criticize injustice by developing a paradigm envisioned to reshape our mindsets. Till then, akpane ane akpa!
Ojo ki dugbo meh chaka!!