Atiku laments anti-Igbo song, says similar cry ignited ‘Rwanda genocide’

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned in strong terms the anti-Igbo song allegedly circulating in the northern part of Nigeria ahead the October 1, quit notice handed to all Igbo living in the region by Arewa youths.

In a statement on his twitter handle entitled “Nigeria Does Not Need a Rwandan Déjà vu,” Atiku called on the security agencies to immediately fish out those behind the “ungodly song”, arrest, prosecute and “severely punish” them.

He said, “It has come to my attention that a song disparaging people of Igbo origin, and which wishes them dead, is circulating in some parts of the nation. I totally and unequivocally condemn this development, and I call on all men of goodwill to rise up against this evil.
“This song is reminiscent of the beginnings of the Rwanda Genocide. Nigerians need to be aware that the Rwanda Genocide was believed to have been ignited by a song titled ‘Nanga Abahutu (I hate Hutus),’ sung by Rwanda’s most popular musician at the time, Simon Bikindi. God forbid that we should have such a déjà vu in Nigeria.
“I call on the security agencies to thoroughly and decisively swing into action and apprehend, try, convict and severely punish those behind this ungodly song which incites racial hatred.
“Simon Bikindi was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for igniting and aiding the Rwandan genocide. Thus, let those who think they can treat their fellow citizens so unjustly know that within and outside Nigeria exist mechanisms that will ensure they answer to their crimes.

Read also: #Quitnotice: Fear of genocide looms as unknown group aims for Igbos in hate song

“I call on all men of goodwill to remember those immortal lines from our former National Anthem, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’.
“The effects of hate in any shape or form were made even more evident over the weekend, in a mass shooting incident that left many of us reeling with shock. I commiserate with the people of Ozubulu in Anambra State, who lost family members in the fatal shooting that also left almost a score injured. I pray that peace will return to their minds and their community soon, even as the police work hard to get to the bottom of the matter. May God comfort them as no man can.”
The anti-Igbo song is coming just about two months to the expiration of the October 1 ultimatum to Ndigbo living in the North.
Despite calls by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other well meaning Nigerians to have the northern youths that handed the quit notice to Igbos arrested, the Federal Government has failed to do so.
Many now argue that the failure of the Government to have the youths arrested, encouraged the release of the more horrifying hate song against Ndigbo.

 

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