An anti-Igbo song circulating in the north has been condemned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar
Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over an anti-Igbo song being circulated in the Northern part of Nigeria as he said it could become another tool for ethnic genocide.
Abubakar who said this in a blog post warned that spreading such message could lead to more ethnic tension as he urged nigerians to not to repeat the mistake of Rwanda. He condemned the release of such song saying: “the release of a song disparaging people of Igbo origin.”
Entitled ‘Nigeria Does Not Need a Rwandan Déjà vu,’ Atiku wrote:
"It has come to my attention that a song disparaging people of Igbo origin, and which wishes them dead, is circulating in some parts of the nation. I totally and unequivocally condemn this development, and I call on all men of goodwill to rise up against this evil.
This song is reminiscent of the beginnings of the Rwanda Genocide. Nigerians need to be aware that the Rwanda Genocide was believed to have been ignited by a song titled ‘Nanga Abahutu (I hate Hutus),’ sung by Rwanda’s most popular musician at the time, Simon Bikindi. God forbid that we should have such a déjà vu in Nigeria.
I call on the security agencies to thoroughly and decisively swing into action and apprehend, try, convict and severely punish those behind this ungodly song which incites racial hatred.
Simon Bikindi was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for igniting and aiding the Rwandan genocide. Thus, let those who think they can treat their fellow citizens so unjustly know that within and outside Nigeria exist mechanisms that will ensure they answer to their crimes.
I call on all men of goodwill to remember those immortal lines from our former National Anthem, “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.”
The effects of hate in any shape or form were made even more evident over the weekend, in a mass shooting incident that left many of us reeling with shock. I commiserate with the people of Ozubulu in Anambra State, who lost family members in the fatal shooting that also left almost a score injured. I pray that peace will return to their minds and their community soon, even as the police work hard to get to the bottom of the matter. May God comfort them as no man can.
The difference between us as Nigerians is not a difference in our tribe or our religion.
It was and remains a difference based on whether we are good Nigerians or bad Nigerians, and I am very certain that the good Nigerians far outnumber the very few bad ones."
See the tweet: