'Preserving our joint humanity' By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Some years ago, when Boko Haram insurgency was at its peak in
North-East Nigeria, sacking villages, detonating bombs in markets,
mosque and churches, killing children, women and elderly and
forcefully conscripting innocent youths into its fold, many of our
fellow citizens in the other parts of the country are feeling so
unconcerned.

The reason for their lack of concern is very clear; they thought the
violence is a northern affair that would never get to their part of
the country.

To add salt to the injury, some unkind people, out of sheer
carelessness went on social media to mock victims of the insurgency
without feeling any sense of shame. In the most inhuman and demeaning
manner, the whole world heard them saying; ‘’let the north continue to
kill themselves’’.

Nothing could be more shocking and heart breaking.

These people made it clear to all that they do not care about the
innocent lives being lost in North East. It doesn’t matter if more
than 20,000 people are gruesomely killed and over 2million are
displaced, they just don’t care they said.

During the same period and in the most disheartening manner, people
who showed serious concern about the suffering of the people of
North-East are blackmailed and shamed.

People like Madam Oby Ezekwesili and others like her, who are known
defenders of human dignity, are constantly bashed and maligned, not
for doing anything wrong, but for speaking out for victims of
inhumanity.

We made it look like demanding dignity for human person is a sin and
those who do so are the sinners.

However, just few years later, the Biafran issue became a major source
of security concern in South East Nigeria and living became very
difficult for a lot of people.

While the agitators are making life hell for some sections of the
populace on one hand, the security agencies are also doing the same at
the other end.

From North East, the concern for insecurity shifted eastward and a lot
of people who may be part of those earlier mocking and demeaning the
victims of North East are also calling for help. Who will help save
humanity they cried, but unfortunately, no one responded.

Images of people killed in controversial circumstances liter the
social media space, but rather than show compassion to the victims,
people are also mocking the east and demeaning its victims.

Like we did to the victims in North East, we also did to the victims
in South-East. We say to them, ‘’we don’t care about what happens to
you because you brought this upon yourselves’’.

Furthermore, as if that was not enough, the train of violence visited
the Middle Belt region, where organized killers who disguise as
herdsmen are spreading sorrow, tears and blood. Human life has become
so meaningless, not just to the killers, but also to us the observers.
Accusation and counter accusations are traded over the media, yet the
killing spree continues. Do we really care?

Instead of empathizing with victims and contribute to ending the human
massacre through informed commentary and valuable propositions, we are
much more concerned with proving who is right or wrong, despite not
having facts to back up our claims.

We spit on the body of our fellow citizens, swim in their blood and
seek personal satisfaction in their sorrow.

We want to win the arguments, not rescue the victims. We compete to
demonize each other with the most harsh and injurious words based on
imaginary and concocted falsehood. This is very saddening.

It is disheartening because, while many of us truly make so much noise
about the crisis, we do not really care about truth or about the
peace, we just want to feel a sense of superiority and rightness over
the others.

Our arguments and advocacy is not out of empathy for our dying
citizens, but about condemning each other in the most dishonest
manner.

For a moment, let us sit back and reflect about our attitude towards
each other and ask salient questions such as, what would have
happened, if we had genuinely shown the people of North East more
love, care and concern without considering their tribes and religion?

What would have happened, if we collectively embraced the South East
without minding their political decisions and speak out for their
concerns and interest?

Tell me, what would have been the situation now, if we are genuinely
speaking for the people of middle belt, not because we just want to
blame and condemn each other, but because we genuinely care for our
humanity and want an end to the bloody crisis.

In my opinion, our old manner of engaging each other has brought us
here and has brought us pain and discontent, it is now time we turn
new leaf and start showing care and concerns genuinely. We must all
care because we belong to each other.

Our sufferings are the same, even though we get our share of the pains
at different times.

Our genuine care is important because, if you care for me today that
the suffering is my turn, I will surely care for you tomorrow when the
suffering shifts to your side.

If you help me advocate for the end t my pain, i will genuinely help
advocate for the end to yours too. If we all care and show concern for
each other as humans, we are simply preserving our joint humanity.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is a Human Rights Ambassador and Executive
Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals(FPP). He can be reached
on discus4now@gmail.com