Several countries and Unions have reacted to the disturbing viral two-minute video clip, which was posted on the Internet on November 12, 2014 – showing Katsina Gov Shema, urging a crowd of supporters to “crush” and “kill” all political opponents he likened to “cockroaches”. The governor’s rhetoric sparked an outrage among Nigerians and the international community.
The United States, United kingdom, and the European Union, EU, yesterday condemned the statement made by Alh. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, of Katsina.
The US and UK issued separate statements, while the EU Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Michel Arrion spoke in Abuja.
The United States of America, in an unusually long statement said it was deeply troubled by Shema’s comments which it said “undermines” the nation’s democratic process.
It said: “the rhetorical threat of violence undermines the democratic process and is utterly unacceptable in a democratic society.
“We are deeply troubled by Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State’s recent statements calling for the killing of the ‘cockroaches of politics.’ The United States reiterates its call upon all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting, or condoning violence before, during, or after the elections”.
“The Nigerian Constitution itself states it is the duty of every citizen to ‘respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of citizens to live in unity and harmony.’ Language that threatens or incites violence short-circuits the democratic process.
“All Nigerians must be free to voice their opinions and participate in the electoral process without fear of physical retribution.
Political parties, elected leaders, and candidates for office have a special obligation to uphold these democratic precepts.
“As Nigeria looks ahead to the February 2015 general elections, the United States strongly supports a free, transparent, credible, inclusive, and non-violent electoral process,” it remarked.
Similarly, the British High Commission said it was concerned by the reported comments of Governor Shema of Katsina State.
According to its statement: “The British Government supports a peaceful, credible and transparent democratic process, in accordance with the stated principles of the Nigerian Constitution. We will continue to make this clear in our engagement with all political actors and parties.”
Head of Delegation of EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb Michel Arrion, said that the speech delivered in Hausa by Shema, if true, was certainly the beginning of the hate speech that should not develop.
According to him, that statement was extremely dangerous and not therefore acceptable.
“I would say it’s really the beginning of something that is a very serious source of concern for us. You know before my posting here in Nigeria I was working in Rwanda. And in Rwanda, in 90 days, they have killed 1 million ‘cockroaches’ which was the nickname giving to the Tutsis.
“So am not sure the people using that kind of language realise what it means, and I want to be really clear on that. If it is confirmed because I don’t, I am sorry to tell you all, I don’t believe everything I read in the press.
“So we have to be careful and I hope it is not true. And there is no good reason whatsoever to call someone a cockroach. Before Rwanda by the way, I was in Ivory Coast and at that time, there was a party calling the voters of the other party ‘the electoral cattle.’ So calling human beings cattle is more than an insult if I will say. It’s really denying the human nature of people. So let’s be clear on that please.
“This kind of hate speech is absolutely not acceptable in particular in the biggest democracy in Africa; Nigeria after all, you are big country, you are big nation,” Arrion said.
The EU representative, also called on Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable for whatever statement they made.
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