Before It Is Too Late

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Before It Is Too Late. 

By Ogiri John Ogiri

Photo credit: Treasurebasenews

At such a time as this when our dear country is bleeding from a deep cut in her veins inflicted on her by religious fanaticism, ethnic chauvinism, preponderance of regional loyalties and interests over national security, greed as well as genocidal tendencies of a microscopic few, it becomes incumbent on us to speak out. The heinous crimes against humanity being perpetrated by those who do not wish to see Nigerians live in peace have now reached a crescendo. It is therefore an act of injustice on our part to continue to remain in silence. We must stop wallowing in the self-delusion that things will get better. It can only become better as soon as we take the initiative in speaking out against the disturbing injustices in Nigeria.
We must rise and speak truth to power. As Henry de Lubac said "It’s not sincerity, it is truth which frees us, because it transforms us. It tears us away from our inmost slavery." The truth we utter is what can save our country.
William Faulkner's advice is aptly suitable for our situation " Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth."
Almost as a corollary, Gaton Bachelard gave a poser that we can learn from. "What is the source of our first suffering? It lies in the fact that we hesitated to speak. It was born in the moment when we accumulated silent things within us."
We need more people speaking out. "Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving."(James E. Faust).
Catherine of Siena charged the people of her time to "Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear." We must do the same in this country.
It was  Elie Wiesel who stated several years ago that "Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." We must save our country from slipping into anarchy.
I belong to the school of thought that believes Nigeria is ripe for a revolution. "But I suppose the most revolutionary act one can engage in is… to tell the truth." (Howard Zinn)
Let us speak out now and take the necessary actions before it is too late. What is happening now can spread to other parts of the country too. Do not say it is none of your business.
German Pastor, Martin Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation: "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me"

Nigerians in protest.

Photo Credit: Kingdom news.

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