Nigerians in the UK will be holding a Peace Rally outside Downing Street, London on the 18th of February, 2012 in solidarity with families who lost their innocent loved ones in terrorist attacks and to send a clear message to the terrorist group Boko Haram that they will never win.
According to the Organizer, Nigeria Associations & Communities in the United Kingdom (NAC-UK), the Peace Rally is one in a series of ‘Diaspora Actions’ against terrorism in Nigeria.
The massacre of innocent Nigerians, especially, in places of worship is evil and it is hardly incomprehensible when it is claimed to be executed in God’s name or in the name of a Religion.
NAC-UK attests its support for the secular status of Nigeria where religion and freedom can co-exist. We believe that religion ought to promote peace, love, fairness, and freedom. Any religion which fails to promote these universal human and divine values can be considered a grave danger to society and is anti-God. We, therefore, call on the leaders of Islam, Christianity, and Natural Religion to endeavor to inculcate these civilized values in their followers.
NAC-UK urges the religious and political leaders, especially those in Northern Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria and all peace and truth-loving Nigerians, men and women of goodwill everywhere to help in bringing these despicable acts of terrorism to an immediate end and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and their sponsors to book, no matter their standing in society’ the group said.
If we have any decency or humanity in us which, I believe we have, we must mobilize Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to the streets of London on February 18, 2012, to stop the ongoing violence. The option of sitting at home and screaming at the television or radio is not good enough. Let what we do speak louder than our words.
We must mobilize for change in our attitude as Nigerians against unspeakable evil, we must mobilize against violence. We must restore hope to the distressed, the bereaved, the injured, and the dispossessed. To sit back now and do nothing may spell disaster for us in the future; our inactions, witting or unwitting encourage the violent disintegration of Nigeria.
We should not wait for other people to take up this campaign. This is a cause that every Nigerian should be associated with.
To support the Peace Rally of the 18 February 2012 in London is the least we can do for now to draw the attention of the International Community to the evils of terrorism before it is too late.
Finally, we urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to be seen to be proactive and serious in addressing the current barbaric situation in Nigeria and reassure Nigerians and Foreigners of their safety in any part of the country, and also pay meaningful compensation to all the victims of Boko Haram atrocities and the victims of any reprisal attack.