My people, make I yarn you one matter wey don dey trend for obodo Nigeria. E be like say our leaders don wake up from sleep, and dem dey always talk say we go collect wetin dem owe us from Britain and other colonial masters. Na real matter, no be joke.
Many of us, we grow up for school wey dem no really teach us about wetin colonialism mean for our history. Dem go just rapam up for one chapter like say na bad dream wey we suppose forget. But my guys, history no dey waka just because we dey ignore am. As dem dey push for reparations, e go good make we all join body for this matter. Na because we get plenty evidence wey no go fit comot.
I just watch one documentary wey title “From Slaves to Bond” on top YouTube, and e really open my eye. E no be like other documentaries wey dey shout and vex. Instead, e dey show how slavery turn to colonialism and wetin dat one mean for our development. Everything wey we dey face now, from bad economy to weak institutions, na as a result of wetin dem plan for us before we even dey born.
The most sharp part for me na say colonialism no be wahala wey just happen anyhow. No! E be organized extraction wey don set our railway, borders, tax system and even law structures to serve British interest. Na so we come inherit states wey no be for our own good. We suppose sabi say this inheritance dey affect wetin dey happen now. You no fit just close eye for where you don come from and expect to run your life for free!
So as we dey push for reparations, na im we suppose dey shout for. Na lie if dem talk say we dey vex because we wan collect money. Na recognition we dey find. Na about acknowledging say modern Nigeria no start for level ground. When dem dey say past na past, dem no dey think about how dem dey chop from our sorrow while we dey pay the price today.
Some critics dey talk say if we dey focus on reparations, e go distract us from our governance wahala. But my people, abeg we no fit separate dis two matter. Demand for accountability for our leaders and demand for justice from colonial powers no be opposing forces. E dey connect, and understanding how our institutions take shape go fit help us reform am.
When Senator Ned Nwoko carry the matter enter British government, e show say we don begin dey raise our complaints for international justice matter. This one no be small change! E go shift conversation from “we dey complain” to “we dey claim wetin be our right”. Make we no just dey see reparations as money, e include formal acknowledgment, returning our stolen artefacts, better trade deals, and restructuring financial systems wey dey still dey advantage the former colonizers.
No be only Britain go they answer. International community need to come clear on how dem take build their wealth from our own sufferings. History dey for our currency, our borders, our debts, and political wahala. When we dey struggle from underdevelopment, e no dey happen for vacuum. Dem decisions wey don happen since before we dey exist dey affect us today.
Support for reparations no mean say we dey deny Nigeria agency or we wan excuse our own failures. No! Na to insist say we suppose hear full story. A story wey go recognize say today’s world order na product of processes wey don systematically disadvantage we, the people.
As Africa dey find im voice back for this matter, Nigeria suppose no shy from am. This reparations talk fit force us to get correct understanding for wetin shape our modern world, and I believe say honesty no be optional anymore — e don become necessary!
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