Atiku condemns ‘anti Igbo song’ currently circulating in the north

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice president has voiced condemnation of an anti-Igbo song currently in circulation in the northern part of the country.

According to the former vice president, the song which the lyrics wish the Igbo people dead has been in circulation in most parts of the north for sometime could trigger a major ethnic crisis like the one that happened in Rwanda in the nineties.

Atiku’s concern was contained in a statement personally signed him and released by his media office, titled, “Nigeria Does Not Need a Rwandan Deja vu”, he urged all Nigerians to condemn what he said was “reminiscent of the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide.”

He also called on the security agencies to fish out and bring to trial those responsible for the song.

The statement read, “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 then most popular musician, 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.

“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 difference between us as Nigerians is not a difference in our tribe or our religion. It was and remains a difference based on whether we are good Nigerians or bad Nigerians, and I am very certain that the good Nigerians far outnumber the very few bad ones.”