Nigeria: Consequences Of Keeping Silent In the Midst Of Tyranny By Martin Niemoller(1892-1984)

Pastor Niemoller

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me”.- famous poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892–1984).
Relate it to Nigeria’s situation. When Boko Haram started by killing political opponents of their political sponsors, you did not speak out because, you are not a politician. When the Boko Haram started killing Christians in their Churches and homes, you did not speak because you are not a Christian. When the Boko Haram started killing Muslims you did not speak because you are not a Muslim. When towns and villages in the North East were levelled to the ground, with thousands killed and made homeless, you did not speak out because you are not from the North East. When the government lock people up beyond the constitutionally allowed period under the guise of fighting corruption, you did not speak out because you are not among those locked up. The day they will come for you, it would be too late to discover that “..there was no one left to speak for YOU.”  This is a lesson for those who conveniently support and applaud impunity and violation of the rule of law in Nigeria!!