#NLM: Nigerian Lives Matter

#NLMHashtag BLM-Black Lives Matter has been trending in the U.S. of recent. It’s so because everyone in the U. S. especially blacks (African Americans), believe that they have had enough. Why? An African American, George Floyd, had his neck pressed down by Derek Chauvin, a white Police Officer for over 48 minutes while three other officers either stood by or assisted the act. As the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka would say- “…The Man Died.” This took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota May 25, 2020. It is not necessary to say that this action led to a worldwide, not just nationwide (U.S.), protests. Pointless too to say that cenotaphs, representing black oppressors and slave traders were pulled down in anger and frustration in places far away from the U. S. Not wanting to over flog the issue, in less than one month, this column dare says that Rays hard Brooks, another African American, went down from bullets of a white Police officer. These two incidences are just two of many, for many had gone unnoticed until some people say, “Enough is Enough.”

Back home in Nigeria, it is even the case of blacks against blacks. From Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southsouth, Southeast, Southwest and Nigeria in her entirety; this trend tends to proliferate. Bandits, ISWAP, Boko Haram, armed robbers, kidnappers and recently, RAPISTS have threatened to make Nigeria a fail state. God forbid! It is on this premise that this column lends its voice to bring home a Hashtag-#NLM-Nigerian Lives Matter representing Enough is Enough. It is even more demanding now than ever because for the first time, President Buhari steps out of his comfort zone to tell the Service Chiefs “…Your best is not good enough….”, Nigerians are grateful to the nation’s armed forces. They share in their pains and sufferings in the different theatres of war to see that the nation is secure and free from all these debacles and fiascos-for to whom do we turn but to a section of the arm bearing citizens of Nigeria-the Armed Forces. On God and them pivot our safety. Even in history, God used men to lead fellow men to war for the sake of liberation. So do the citizens of Nigeria rely on God through the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to give the nation the needed sanctuary and shelter.

The citizens of this great black nation are encouraged to key into this Hashtag- #NLM-Nigerian Lives Matter. Let this Hashtag trend on the Social Media. (#NLM)- #NigerianLivesMatter Just as Mr. President has said, let our men in uniform do their best by propagating this Hashtag #NLM-Nigerian Lives Matter. Let it be their guiding principle, an inspiration and may the spirit of the nation go with them until #NLM-Nigerian Lives Matter. Just thinking aloud and I should be allowed.

Richard Akpan is Head of ICT, National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State

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