On Saturday, April 5, 2025, I had the very sobering and chilling experience of visiting the Rwanda Genocide museum. It was an experience filled with profound sorrow and anguish. It served as a haunting and sad reminder of the brutal massacre of over 250,000 Tutsis, who were mercilessly attacked by the Hutu, who they once considered friends, neighbors, and even family during the horrific events that began on April 7, 1994. During the visit to the museum, I turned to Abdul, my driver and tour guide, and asked him, “Can we be certain that such atrocities will never occur again?” His response was a firm yes. He told me that Rwandans have all vowed: Never Again. After taking a moment to pray for the souls of those who perished, we departed, burdened by the weight of history.
Tragically, Nigeria has faced a similar, if not worse, tragedy, particularly during what could be referred to as the most challenging period in the history of our country, from January 15 to July 29, 1966, which led to the Nigeria-Biafra war. 1967-1970. This conflict resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3 million Nigerians in a senseless and preventable war. It prompts us to reflect on some critical questions:
1. Have we truly learned from the mistakes of our past?
2. Are there effective measures in place to prevent ethnic discrimination and hatred in Nigeria?
3) Have we genuinely healed and reconciled as a nation?
4) Have we honored the memories of all those who lost their lives in these conflicts?
It is imperative that Nigerians, particularly our politicians, exercise caution in their utterances, treat one another with respect and dignity, and foster a spirit of peace among fellow citizens. We must strive to treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. As Mahatma Gandhi wisely said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
Sonny Iroche is the Director General, Abia League of Professionals Initiative (ALPI)
