I am a typical nairalander, an igbo man and even though I am enjoying myself in the confines of Lagos, i do not seem safe at all.I might be 1000s of km away from my ancestral homeland but each picture, text I see of my people killed feels like a bullet ripping into me.
The thing that however annoys me the most is not the killings but those who seek to somehow enjoy them, or rather cheekishly justify them. The truth is we can all say nnamdi Keanu has participated in hate speech,nobody can deny that but is the solution or has the solution ever really been death or killing them, we live in a country where everyone makes General abusive comments towards tribes, to the point whereby it enters our daily conversations, and just because we sometimes brush it off as jokes does not mean it doesnt hurt or affect us.
But however nnamdi Kanu, hateful and ignorant as he is, ks not and has never been the first or even among the most prominent people in Nigeria to hate fully describe a tribe with nasty words and like it or not he won't be the last. The real and best way to treat hate speakers is suing them to a civil or criminal court to be tried or asking for an apology statement from them.The idea of killing people or their followers based on the principle of hate speech without any actual action afterwards is not just regrettable it is also barbaric.The sad and worst part is that even many nairalander among us complaining about this "hate speech", type far worse and inhumane things on daily basis and just because we might be unable to put a face to them, does not in a way absolve them of this fact. We should never support the killing of people because of political alliances, too much blood has already been spilled on this country, yet where has it taken us.
Sanusi once called the Yoruba the problems of Nigeria, Oba of Lagos once said he will drown and kill all igbos who didn't support his own political candidate.The army didn't roll out tanks to kill their people or supporters, Femi fan I kayode has called many ethnic groups within Nigeria unprintable names, so why now
I know irrespective of whatever I say, some close minded people will still call me terrorist or iPod youth. I am neither of the above and i don't give a damn about out some internet strangers opinion about me.
All I want to ask is what is your definition of hate speech or is it when it is targeted at you group or tribe, that it becomes a problem, if the KKK , the mother of all hate groups can protest in America. If trump himself can continuously condemn certain demographic in America without any military interventions or massacres, why should we allow this deaths happen. I would gladly support a legal arrest and free trial towards nnamdi Kanu based on any crimes or charges that can be proven towards him, but i would never support the killing of protesters and agitators. Dialogue is always the best option, a quiet obedient man is just as dangerous as a militant combatant.He is just looking for a course to fight for.