Of worthy and unworthy victims

Aliyu Musa

This week Egypt’s military continues its killing spree, mauling hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters and rendering them endangered specie. Yet no one will speak for them because they are unworthy victims. And despite subjecting their non-Western acuity of democracy to the scrutiny of apologists of Western democracy and Westernisation as a way of life that must be emulated or be forced down their throat, they are cruelly let down.

Endangered species are all over. But whether they are considered worthy victims or not is another matter all together. It all depends on who they are and the essences they are persecuted for. The Muslim Brotherhood has a long history of being no one’s Ox; so be they gored with complete ruthlessness and no dusts are raised.

In Nigeria our perception of who is endangered or not is also contingent on whom the retailers of news (they are actually newsmakers) bestow their favour. And like a world that would see gross right violations against ‘branded pro-Morsi folks’ and turn the other way, our local media collude with international colleagues to redefine the term ‘endangered specie’ and turn the cameras (publicity) away from unworthy victims. That is why even when they are deported from their own country they are blamed for it.

Deportation of Nigerians from Nigeria did not begin with the recent deportation of some Igbo tribesmen from Lagos to the east. It has always happened. But because the others were unworthy victims no news was made of it and no sympathy was hyped for them. They were always considered miscreants, social irritants that must be rid of for a healthier, happier society. So, 160 beggars get deported to Kano or some part of the north and we all go mute. But we predictably go ballistic over the deportation of some 70 or 17 or seven Nigerians to Onitsha and make the most divisive comments we can think of as if we want the country to crash to crumbs.

I have nothing against Governor Babatunde Fashola. In fact he is one of the few politicians I think still deserve a place on a plaque of honour if we must raise one. But I don’t always agree with his policies. I did not like his policy of demolishing places of worship just like I find the deportation of Nigerians from Nigeria linked to his government bizarre and anti-people. But must we bring down the house just yet, because some worthy victims are affected?

Since this saga unfolded we have been endlessly reminded of the potential divisibility of Nigeria and an urgent need for a full revalidation of the state of Biafra. Igbos are prompted to begin thinking home especially in Biafra in view of their ‘inhuman removal and usual marginalization’. And so much noise is made of over nothing.

In my review of the late Professor Chinua Achebe’s last book There was a country I did mention that it would lastingly be a reference point for successive Igbo generations. And it would at every point acrimoniously remind them that they are hindered by the rest of us and stimulate them into seeing every opportunity as one to be taken advantage of to secede. That is why the alleged deportation has been given this coloration and has attracted this sort of media sympathy and so on.

Each time a certain misfortune befalls Igbos in other parts of the country it, once again, reinvigorates the call for secession. And whenever armed bandits or rival groups (fallout of business deals badly go wrong) attack a village gathering it is blamed on the country and trumpets of fragmentation are ceaselessly blown.

Similarly, the Boko Haram menace is seen as further conspiracy to annihilate the endangered specie even though the bulk of the victims are any tribe but Igbo. Last Sunday, for example, some Boko Haram murderers marauded into a Mosque in Konduga near Maiduguri and gunned down 44 worshippers. This brutal act has not attracted a quarter of the publicity it would have generated were the victims considered worthy.

Some years ago Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang who once described himself as a locomotive bulldozed through the sleepy town of Wase and with the help of the police, state security operatives, immigration officials and a cajoled Local Government Chairman, seized and callously deported Fulani herdsmen to only God knows where. Nothing was ever heard of the heinous action, simply because the victims were not worthy ones.

So, we continue to fool ourselves about the equality of all. But in reality some are worthy victims while others deserve whatever hits them.

Postscript:

Last week was one of trial for my family following the death of my immediate elder brother’s only child, Musa Muhammad, after a brief illness. It was a trial from Allah for which we have nothing but gratitude to the giver and taker who knows best what is right for us . May Allah forgive and accept him into al Jannat Firdausi.