Fela was spot on when he said Me and You No Dey For Di Same Category

By Ayo Akinfe 

(1) Who remembers this march in Paris in November 2015? In response to a terrorist attack, French President Francois Holland mobilised the whole world to come and join him on a march through the city 

(2)Islamic State had carried out an attack that killed 130 people, including 90 at the Bataclan theatre, while another 413 people were injured. Now, I would guess that at least 500 people are killed a week in Nigeria by Fulani herdsmen, armed bandits and violent kidnappers but alas, we have not deemed this sufficient enough to call for such a march as happened in Paris 

(3) Is it just me here but our pain threshold appears to be so high that we can just go on as if nothing has happened after hundreds of innocent Nigerians have been killed. When I see the kind of weaponry these killers have in their possession I cannot but ask why we have not declared a state of emergency 

(4) This week, governors from across the southwest met in Abuja to discuss the security situation within their geo-political zone given the current spate of kidnapping and murder there and I cannot believe they did not resolve to organise a 1m march to show public revulsion at what is going on 

(5) I believe they went to see President Buhari afterwards. Did they present him with a list of demands? I find it totally unacceptable that President Buhari has not led a march along those highways and forests in the southwest where the murders have been taking place to make a statement. If he is not interested, the governors should give him an ultimatum 

(6) We all saw President Buhari jog in Mecca recently. If he is fit enough to do that, he is fit enough to march against murders. I am sure that if he asked his fellow African presidents to join him on the march, they would happily oblige 

(7) More than 40 heads of state and government joined French President Francois Hollande in linking arms for a brief walk through Paris. They were supported by 4m French citizens. Can someone please tell me why Nigerians are not demanding this of their leaders? They will not do it unless we push them, so it is time to get off your lazy backsides, you docile and walk-on-by Nigerians 

(8) When I see 1m Nigerians sit outside Aso Rock, ready to paralyse the government unless President Buhari acts on this matter I will know we are serious about ending kidnapping, murder, rape and terrorism. My people are not just ready to take the action required to end the scourge, so naturally, it will continue 

(9) During the Paris march, I remember Mamoun Abdelali, a local imam denouncing militant Islam at the rally. He said the assailants did not avenge the Prophet Muhammad but rather they insulted and dishonored him. When was the last time you heard any Nigerian Fulani leader condemn what is going on across the country today? Shehu Sani is the lone voice in the wilderness. Bless that man for his courage 

(10) After the Paris attacks, the French took drastic action. A three-month state of emergency was declared across the country, which involved the banning of public demonstrations and allowing the police to carry out searches without a warrant. They were also allowed to put anyone under house arrest without trial and block websites that encouraged acts of terrorism. Has President Buhari done one tenth of this? Unless we push him to, he will not!