The Victory of Good Over Evil: From Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia to Nigerian Political Leaders.

‘That until the philosophy which holds one [political elite group] superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any [region]; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his [brain and heart]; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to [state of origin, tribe, religion, or political affiliation]; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and [Nigerian] citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained;

And until the ignoble and unhappy [government at Abuja] that hold our brothers in [Lagos, Maiduguri, Enugu, Esan, and in Jos] in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all [Nigerians] stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the [Nigerian] [leadership] will not know peace. We [the marginalized, the almajiri, the talakawa, the underprivileged, and the oppressed] will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.’

Author's comment, December 08, 2019

This story is an adaptation from an address By "Emperor Haile Selassie 1" of Ethiopia before the United Nations on October 6, 1963, and converted into a mega-hit song by the late Bob Marley. It was rephrased and shared by Mr. Alex Aidaghese on January 01, 2013, influenced by the Nigerian reality at the time. The work was one of his copious essays - noble and celebrated at the time - aimed at running President Jonathan and PDP out of power at Abuja for President Buhari and APC to emerge. If it wasn't a Hate Speech in 2013, it cannot be a Hate Speech today under President Buhari.