France.
Pray for France.
Nigeria.
Preys for Nigeria. Prey on Nigeria.
France.
Within 36 hours of the Paris shootings, French bombs retaliate angrily on ISIS’ strongholds in Raqqaya. Bombs of venom and vengeance.
Nigeria.
With each detonated bomb by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria, an aloof nation and befuddled government look on. Yet another tepid official statement and hesitant tiptoes towards the so-called Sambissa strongholds of BH.
And they say you should pray for France. And then pray for the Preys on Nigeria.
Anti-terrorism has a colour. The colour of Western Flags. When it happens to them over there, Mark Zuckerberg activates the softwares on facebook which gets millions of facebook members using such flags as profile pictures. Anti-terrorism is stronger when it is initiated by the West. Because they know how to. They know what to. They know where to. Anti-terrorism.
But Zuckerberg will not activate the Nigerian flag for every suicide attack or bomb blast in Northern Nigeria. 2000 killed in Bama, Hundreds killed by BH in Borno and Adamawa since May 29. Who cares? Your country and it’s people have no emotional value to Zuckerberg.
Oh…some say the world used placards during the ‘ Bring Back Our Girls’ campaigns. I remember that too. And that is a strong counter argument. So there is a point there. A political point, if I so say.
But the argument for this sympathy for France is different somewhat. It underlines a propensity by Africans mostly to follow the dictates of a powerful media persuasion of the West to highlight what is paramount for us all; and we have a choice to kow-tow or pooh-pooh.
For as we pray for France without giving a thought about those who are killed daily by terrorists in Nigeria, so do we Prey on Nigeria by being aloof.
Pray and Prey.
May all the souls find rest though.
Charles Novia is an award-winning filmmaker. He is founder of November Productions and November Records. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
