Re: The Shi’ites under Buhari’s watch

While I commend your forthrightness in your examination of this Shi’ites’ matter, the solution suggested by you is too simplistic. Anywhere you find Islamic-related violence on earth, the principal reason is that those behind it have no respect for law and constituted authorities on the ground of their Islamic beliefs. Who now will teach the Shi’ites to abide by the law they don’t respect?  People will act wrongly if they believe wrongly and that is the fundamental problem behind Islamic terrorism the world over now. You will see that even if your recommendations are adopted this cycle of violence between the army and Shi’ites will rear its ugly head in no distant time.
–08079922***

Federal and Kaduna state governments should compensate families of the Shi’ites that lost their lives as the panel of inquiry indicted soldiers for the killings. The so-called Shi’ites should stop blocking highways whenever they gather for any occasion. It is unlawful. They must learn to obey the law. Let government urgently compensate families of victims and release the detained ones for peace to reign.
–Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia

Good insight and worthy admonition. The Federal Government needs to intervene in the Shi’ites issue with sense of objectivity and fairness. Otherwise, another Boko Haram is in the making.
–N. J. O

Abdulfatah, I commend your truth-telling in The Shi’ites Under Buhari’s Watch and your call for justice as recommended by the panel set up to investigate the matter. The fact that the Army committed the act a day after confrontation with the sect members, and at another location, proves an intention by them to commit the murderous act and therefore are roundly culpable of the offence. Therefore the culprits should be penalised according to the law. Buhari’s reaction, in favour of the Army in respect of their insensitive and inhuman reprisal attack on Shi’ite members, is in line with his modus of governance which, in all parameters, can be described as militarised democracy. A known columnist of your tabloid, who has ceded citadel of knowledge to himself, would not take such as the true position of Buhari’s military tendencies in governance. Please, refer to Saturday Sun, 11 August, 2016, page 47 for facts on that. Coincidentally, there were reports on the conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Port Harcourt recently where on the last day “The take from the session, which was introduced by a fellow of the NGE, Mr. Ray Ekpu and discussed by Mr. Iyare, Mr. Steve Nwosu and the humble ‘Quoted Columnist’, is the need for a return to ethics of the profession”. What a right and noble call! To discerning minds, true reportage and reasonable analysis of every issue are no doubt part of ethics of professional journalism; which without doubt columnists of your clout dish out through their works. There is no president in the whole world who can run his country all alone. And the media are best placed to offer assistance to such leaders to channel their thrusts of governance aright. Let us hope the call would be adhered to by defaulters of ethics of your profession from now on. God save Nigeria.
-Lai Ashadele.

The problem with Generals in democracy is the regimentation virus mentality, hence every civilian is a ‘bloody civilian’. So, whether still in barracks or retired, they feel superior even though the uniform is purchased with tax payers’ money. This is the dilemma of the change we voted. I wish they mellow than prop up eyes in every crisis situation when Fabian tactics could have been applied. Let us see how this style will enhance economic growth and deepen democracy. Everybody, except those in governance, is complaining. Time is ticking away.
–Tony Enyinta,Isuikwuato

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Abdulfatah, the massacre of the Shi’ites by Nigerian soldiers in Zaria in 2016 is not the first of such to be witnessed in our country. It dates back to 1966 when those who masterminded the so-called revenge coup d’etat of July 29th, 1966 were done with the extermination of their colleagues of Igbo extraction that they could lay hands upon.
They supervised the mobs and participated actively in the pogrom that followed in most cities and villages in the North and the other places where the massacre took place. Odi and Zaki-Biam happened recently and those who followed keenly could observe that the reaction of the authorities followed the same pattern: blaming the victims. One is forced, therefore, to conclude that those in authority either do not understand their duties or are not matured for the offices they occupy. For the army to come back a day after the supposed provocation to carry out such an extensive massacre of defenseless citizens, makes the discerning minds to wonder whose interest such a powerful institution serves. The reaction of our president makes it even more pitiable.Thanks
–Emma Okoukwu

Firstly, the Shi’ites are at fault knowing that the armed forces are temperamental in nature. So, what they did was like a suicide mission, but for the army to slaughter 347 people in broad daylight makes me ask who is more dangerous, Boko Haram or the Army meant to protect us? Also for the President to say that the Shi’ites are to blame defies my understanding. It shows that the President still sees himself as a military president and I urge him to sit up and face reality. Lastly, Lt. Gen Buratai should issue a public apology to the bereaved and compensate them. It’s a lesson to both sides. God bless Naija.
–08176746***

My Brother, I have been following your write up. Let’s call a spade, spade. I personally support what the Army did, you should have known the kind of challenges the military was facing at that moment. Insecurity; and some right thinking persons to stand and block a major road. How would you think if it were other civilian motorists traveling and meeting such situation? What do you think would have happen to them? Therefore, no persons have the right to block the highways. The road safety corps are there to guide, if need be.
-Godwin. O . Owerri, Imo State.

I once came across the shi’ites for the first time two years back on a Monday morning on my way to work at the western by-pass Kaduna, on their way to Zaria. The lane from Asikolaye to Kawo was taken over, leading to vehicles now using one-way. They have a history of always being in conflict with the government, especially the military.
Residents of Zaria metropolis will tell you their ordeal whenever these followers of El-Zakzaky are around. Imagine telling the number one Nigerian Army man to turn back?
Had it been BH were uprooted from the tap root this same way, we could have been singing a different song by now. Those that were treated accordingly took dressing since then. Please let’s not get things twisted via religion. Justice for disobedience of law and order?
–Adeogun Titus

I read your piece but I am adding that though the army overreacted, the Shi’ites too were to blame because you cannot in your sane and moral self confront an army without provocation and refuse them right of way and expect to be handled with kid gloves. More so, it was the convoy of the serving army chief not former, my brother. They group probably wanted to prove the supremacy of their leader or group over that of the army. In this case, you see, they got what they bargained for which could have been avoided had they let the soldiers pass without any hitch.
–Garba Danladi