All of Our Voices Are Important in the Pursuit of Justice for Our People

When I log in to my Facebook page and post messages that speak truth to power on sociopolitical issues concerning Nigeria, some may feel like, “I should keep quiet, and, “Who am I to speak that way?” While others may feel like, “Yes, you are a potent, peaceful revolutionary in the making.”

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The point I am trying to make is: I am no better than the next person silently working for change without the Facebook “hoopla”; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Rosa Parks both had different roles in the revolution that led to the desegregation of buses in some parts of the United States of America, and even though Dr. King had more popularity, Park’s role in that revolution was no less important.

My family and friends that nurtured me in Lagos State, Nigeria, know that from the time I started talking as a child and then grew older — feeling the natural pressure to conform to Nigerian societal norms of not uttering “certain socially incorrect statements” — I had the urge to rebel.

“My mouth can be compared to a basket” and that is not a phenomenon I can explain because it is part of my DNA, but the greater challenge for me is not to speak like a drunk man, because I can, but to speak in a way that encourages justice, love, and peace among people.

In conclusion, the people that choose to devote their energy solely toward praying for Nigeria, the advisers of Nigerian leaders that encourage them to do the right thing by the Nigerian people, the hardworking small and large businessmen and women in Nigeria, the wise and noble elders in diverse communities across Nigeria, and so on are as relevant as people like me, Seun Kuti, Chinedu C. Ekeke, Shehu Sani, Omoyele Sowore, and a lot of other people that speak fearlessly in diverse public domains about the injustice that men and women saddled with the responsibility of governing Nigeria choose to do against the people.

What is not acceptable is not to do anything, because that is suicidal against Nigeria.

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