Nigerian Rastafari Community Decries Gov. Bago’s Insensitive Remarks About Dreadlocks
The Nigerian Rastafari Community has frowned on what it termed insensitive comments made by the governor of Nigeria State, condemning dreadlock wearing people.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, HonouRebel Myke Pam, the community described the governor’s pronouncements as insensitive and delusional.v
The statement reads:
In a country where the monthly minimum wage cannot buy you a 50kg bag of rice, talk more of feeding, hospital, school and transportation bills for a family of four, a state governor has the temerity to profile and condemn all dreadlocks wearing citizens. This is both saddening, insensitivity and totally condemnable. It simply smacks of delusional and draconian tendency, and of course, crass incompetence, educational deficiency and historical blindness. Then again, you have some “happy slaves” and stomach infrastructure political jobbers clapping for such dumb statements.
Swapping democracy for Idiocracy is now the new norm for underperforming government officials in Nigeria, and governor Bago of Niger State has taken this Idiocracy to a new laughable and unrealistic level. Instead of working hard to elevate the living standards of the suffering people of his state, who are constantly under the murderous rampage of armed terrorists and blood gurgling marauders, this obviously failed state executive is rather fishing in muddy waters.
The video of Mr. Bago directing security operatives in his state to arrest, fine and shave the locks off all dreadlocks they encounter in the state is akin to asking his operatives to kill and maim his citizens and residents that he swore an oath to protect. It is also reminiscent of the dreadful apartheid South African regime that pillaged, stole and killed without compunction.
Niger State is in the Northern part of Nigeria, ravaged by poverty, insecurity and educational backwardness, and instead of proffering workable solutions to set up the state on the trajectory of growth and poverty alleviation, the man is busy chasing shadows while his house burns.
The Rastafari Community in Nigeria under the auspices of Rastafari Continental Council, RCC Nigeria Ital Yard, is calling on the governor to immediately recant his unguarded and insensitive statement and set the records straight, so as to avoid the looming “war” he has inadvertently set in motion.
We as Rastafari People are distinctively known as law abiding, patriotic, nonviolent and peaceful messengers of JAH. We are apolitical and nonaligned, and cannot be used as cannon fodders for anybody or group of people’s political chess boards.
Dreadlocks remains the most ancient of all hair styles and ours is purely spiritual and of course scriptural. The fact that the governor or his advisers and handlers are not versed in the revered historical, spiritual, religious or scriptural essence of dreadlocks is indeed very pitiable and frightening at the same time; especially when you realize that the individual involved is the democratically elected governor of a state, presiding over the lives of millions citizens of the state.
Sadly, this is the second time we are traveling this unfamiliar path, having taken on a former PRO of Lagos State Police command who made a similar statement about 6 years ago. Like we stated then, it is not all dreadlock wearing people are Rastafari people, yet it is very wrong to profile people merely based on how they look.
Once again, we implore the governor to do the needful immediately so as to avoid creating unnecessary chaos in our society. We also call on all security apparatchik in Niger State to respect the fundamental, cultural, religious and spiritual rights of all citizens and residents of the state, and avoid being used as human rights abusers instead of their constitutional duties as rights defenders.
“A stitch in time saves nine”
HonouRebel Myke Pam
Chairman:
RCC Nigeria Ital Yard
