Rivers Black Day: Yes We Remember!

By Solomon Okocha

The Patriots Alliance (TPA), wishes to express her profound gratitude to the organisers of "Rivers Black Day." The programme is aimed at remembering all those that were killed in cold blood during the 2015 electioneering and election day violence in Rivers State.

According to the information available to us, on Monday, November 30, 2015, 10,000 Rivers Citizens and Residents are expected to come out to the designated venue for a candlelight procession and interdenominational memorial service in honour of over 100 persons killed by hellish politicians.

We are very pleased that the people of Rivers State have not forgotten so soon the mindless killings of our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, friends and acquaintances, on the pedestal of mundane, barbaric, and inordinate ambition of a few political desperados.

As Patriots, we believe that this memorial service and procession will reaffirm the "right to life" as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Banjul Charter), and other related international treaties. We also believe that it will re-awaken government's resolve at protecting the lives of her citizens at all times, irrespective of political considerations.

We dare say that it is indeed an indictment on Nigeria's security apparatus that up till this moment, no single person has been arrested, prosecuted, or sentenced for the unbelievable massacre that took place in Rivers State. We use this medium to urge President Muhammadu Buhari not to renege on his earlier promise of fishing out and punishing the masterminds of these senseless murders.

Finally, we call on all those who believe in the sanctity of human life, to come out in their blackest apparels, come next week Monday, as we remember the Martyrs of democracy in Rivers State.

Solomon Okocha
For: The Patriots Alliance
[email protected]