By Obafemi Giwa-Amu,Esq.
My late father, SIO Giwa-Amu, never failed to remind me how he spoke up and protested vehemently against the wanton killing of the Delta Igbos during the Nigerian war in the sixties.
He was the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary to the Government of the Midwest Region at the time (1966-1971).
He did not speak up because my mother is Igbo. He spoke up against the inhumanity of man to man.
Yet he was accused of being a saboteur, persecuted and sent to detention for several months where he defended himself and was released.
As a family, we stood lonely except for very close and personal families in Benin that stood by us. They are few but I remember the Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua, Chief Okeaya Inneh SAN, Justice Sadoh, Chief Ojomoh, Chief Aitalegbe, and others whom I cannot remember now as I was barely five years old when the war broke out.
It was Chief Rotimi Williams who fought for the Habeas Corpus Write of Summons and to the glory of God it was successful. General Gowon actually ordered the release.
It was my Dad’s closest friend and confidant through life, Chief Okeaya Inneh SAN, who took my brother Oz and I to Mainland Hotel, Lagos to receive my father as he was released from detention to the glory of God Almighty.
As I reflect on the danger he put himself and his family through, I understand now that he said we are all guilty of the same act of wickedness and oppression if we keep silent in that face of the oppression of our fellow human being.
This is actually a biblical principle that emphasizes personal responsibility for our actions and inactions, particularly in the context of social justice and the welfare of others.
From a biblical perspective, several passages emphasize the importance of speaking out against oppression and standing up for those who are marginalized:
👉🏾 Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
👉🏾 Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
👉🏾 James 4:17
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
The moral obligation to advocate for justice and show compassion for those who are suffering cannot be compromised.
The biblical message is clear that inaction in the face of injustice can be seen as a failure of moral duty and in fact is obnoxious to our God.
Our God is a God full of compassion. It is ungodly therefore to stand by and watch injustice of a people, a tribe, or a race when your voice no matter how small can be raised against the oppressor.
👉🏾 Psalm 116:5,
“The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion”.
👉🏾 Psalm 145:8-9, also highlight this attribute by saying, “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works”.
WE MUST BE REMINDED THAT WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD.
This perspective encourages believers to be vigilant and proactive in their communities, promoting justice and supporting those in need. By doing so, they reflect the core values of love, compassion, and responsibility that are central to biblical teachings.
WHEN WE REFLECT ON THE COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH OF NIGERIA AND IN THE MIDDLE BELT THAT HAVE BEEN ERASED FROM THE EXISTENCE; KILLED; WITH THEIR LANDS PLUNDERED BY EXTREMISTS, FIGHTING SELFISH CAUSES OF GREED AND SELF-HELP, WE MUST RISE UP AS A NATION AND SPEAK UP.
WE CANNOT POLITICISE THE FACTS THAT THE IDP CAMPS ARE FULL OF FELLOW HUMANS IN THE MOST DEPLORABLE STATE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE WHO WERE SACKED AND DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR LANDS BY EXTREME RADICAL MILITIA MEN.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT RELIGION THESE PEOPLE ARE.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TRIBE THEY ARE.
IT DOES NOT EVEN MATTER THAT THEY ARE FELLOW NIGERIANS.
IT ONLY MATTERS THAT THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
THEY ARE GOD’S CREATION. SAME ONE GOD’S CHILDREN.
WE FAIL MORALLY WHEN WE KEEP QUIET IN THE FACE OF SUCH WICKEDNESS OF MAN TO MAN.
MAY GOD FORGIVE US ALL AND SET US BACK ON THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH HIS COMPASSION AND MERCY.
DID IT MATTER WHAT CREED; TRIBE; LANGUAGE OR COLOUR A VICTIM OF A PLANE CRASH WAS? HUMANITY JUST AROSE IN COMPASSION!
WE STILL HAVE BREATH AND SO WE MUST STAND UP AND STOP THE MERCILESS KILLINGS OF OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
