As the global community gathered over the weekend for the 25th commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide, our dear Vice President, Yemi Osinbanjo most commendably encouraged world leaders never to allow a repeat of the kind of genocide that happened in Rwanda 25 years ago. Further concerned by the disturbing resurgence of hate speech, racism and other identity-type problems and their causative link to the Rwandan genocide, he equally implored world leaders to stand in unison against actions or inactions that incite and cause societal disorder. While the pertinence of Osinbajo’s cautions is undoubtedly true, a patriotic assessment of our dear country shows that there are many signs of Rwanda in Nigeria that are either ignored or condoned even by the government. Rwandan genocide cannot be described as an abrupt war between the Hutus and Tutsis. It was a genocide caused by built up sentiments of hate and divisions, real and perceived feelings of marginalization and inequality that were allowed to fester even within the realms of government.
Traceable to many factors such as the perception of Tutsis as superior in addition to their higher economic power given their specialization in livestock as compared to Hutus in crop farming, a small country of about 7 million people in 1994 co-existed on the edge. With deep hatred against the minority Tutsis with only about 14% of the population, the shooting down of the plane carrying the then President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu and his Burundian colleague, another Hutu on 6th April 1994 provided the required opportunity for the Hutus, with about 85% of the population, to unleash their pent-up anger against the Tutsis. Within hundred days, about a million people were killed with many more raped, maimed, injured or declared missing.
As we continue to grieve over the unconscionable atrocities of the Rwandan experience and the inexcusable failings of both Rwandan leaders and that of the international community, the only way we can genuinely show lasting penitence and truly avoid a reoccurrence is to effectively address all signs similar to the ones that caused the genocide. These include all cries of oppression, marginalization, tribal persecution, negligence and other social vices that negate or suppress the freedoms and opportunities of citizens. Most unfortunately and lamentably, across the length and breadth of Nigeria, we are now more characterized with pervasive signs similar to the ones that festered and caused the Rwandan genocide.
When entire villages and communities are repeatedly attacked with many killed, injured and others permanently displaced, we have signs of Rwanda. Even though that many of those killed and displaced are most of the times helpless and unable to fight back, the feelings of hate, oppression and desire to revenge are deep. An encounter with my Uber driver, Jonah from Chibok is a vivid example of micro signs of Rwanda in Nigeria. After running away from Chibok about 8 years ago, Jonah is unable to return or visit his most cherished village, powerless to see or even hear from his mother and younger ones, he is left frustrated and deeply embittered while he toils for daily survival on the streets of Lagos. As we have millions like Jonah in almost all parts of the country and with no clear and convincing plan to properly address their pitiable and avoidable sufferings, we have signs of Rwanda!
In addition to many killings, when elections in areas perceived to be dominated by specific ethnic group are deliberately and violently disrupted to disenfranchise the group in order to achieve preferred electoral outcomes, then we have signs of Rwanda! Moreover, as such barbarism received little or no condemnation from our leaders and treated with levity even by relevant government agencies, we are encouraging the development of negative sub-cultures and beliefs akin to signs of Rwanda!
When very patriotic calls for the restructuring of the country based on overwhelming evidences that we are in a wrong direction and failing in all measures of acceptable human existence are ignored, we have signs of Rwanda. The problem is not really with rejecting calls for restructuring, the frustration is the inability of the few who reject it to provide a convincing alternative or even commit to a proper discussion on the merits and demerits of restructuring our dear country. While being in power can create illusionary appreciation of our sad state as a country, it is important that we remember that power is transient and the appropriate legacy is to listen to wise counsels such as the rapidly growing calls for the restructuring of the country. Continuing to reject these genuine calls from South West, North Central, South East, North East, South South and even North West can only be described as allowing the feelings and sentiments that led to the Rwandan genocide to fester and grow in Nigeria.
When about 21 million brothers and sisters are reported as unemployed while our leaders especially the governors continue to sequestrate unaccountable hundreds of millions of Naira every month in the name of security votes, then we have signs of Rwanda. Not only do they confiscate the hundreds of millions of naira, many of them seem to have abdicated their governance responsibilities such as job creation and provision of basic development amenities. Rather than innovatively govern their states, many prefer to junket across cities with obscene displays of very wasteful life styles while escalating the unsustainable debts of their states. In such situations which are lamentably true of many of our states, the only feelings and behavior that will emerge and grow will be that similar to the ones that caused the Rwandan genocide. Verbal appeals to world leaders to prevent a repeat of Rwandan genocide are most laudable, however, what is more appropriate is genuine and effective actions to address the signs that cause crisis and wars like that of Rwanda.
Franklin Ngwu
Dr. Ngwu is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy, Finance and Risk Management, Lagos Business School and a Member, Expert Network, World Economic Forum. E-mail- [email protected],
