In Paris, France, 12 people were killed by Islamic militants and the global outcry and condemnation was overwhelming. Every progressive world leader lend their voice to condemn the dastardly act. The media was overly on top of the news giving a minute by minute report as the event unfolds. In the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, an Islamic terrorist group attacked and killed scores of innocent Nigerians. The first account of the incident states that 2,000 persons were killed. Then another account coming from another quarters refuted that claim and states that just about 200 persons were killed. The local media effectively downplayed the story. Not much was reported about it. Rather topping the headlines were news of the presidential campaigns and the razzmatazz, glitz and glam of the Presidents nieces society wedding. As far as the local media is concerned, these are more news worthy that a report of some horrific and distasteful incident. No VIP was part of the casualties, hence its not worth paying premium attention to. Now, I see some of my fellow compatriots wondering aloud and asking if Nigeria was no more part of humanity that a massacre of 2,000 Nigerians could not evoke even half the global outcry that the killing of 12 people in Paris elicited. Some are already accusing the international media of bias and insensitivity towards us. However, I think we are blaming the wrong people and this is my take on this : We need to blame ourselves for this. We as a people have not shown that we have regards for the lives of our fellow Nigerians. What effort have we, and that includes our media exacted to show our grief. The rest of the world will only echo our cry if we actually cry out in one voice. A situation whereby some of us because of political affiliation come out to negate the fact that these incidents actually happened, or was less tragic or overblown, the world will naturally be sceptical and will just keep quiet and watch. With the episode of the kidnapped girls, some Nigerians are still telling the whole world that no girls were kidnapped. So what do you expect. You wouldnt go and register your condolences in a household when some of the family members are actually saying they are not bereaved, no one has actually died in the family. Just my opinion.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 19:11:10 +0000
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