It's Not My Business?

By Nwachukwu Egbunike

First they bombed UN building in Abuja,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a diplomat.

Then they bombed the churches,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Christian.

Then they bombed the Police Headquarters,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Policeman.

Then they bombed the Kano mosque,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Muslim.

Then they bombed ThisDay newspapers,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Journalist.

Then they bombed the university chapel in BUK,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Professor, Student nor Christian.

Soon they will bomb me
and there will be no one left to speak out for me.

Since it’s not my business!

Adapted from this poem below:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

- Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

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