ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Dr. Dakuku Peterside, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the April election in Rivers State, has called on victims of slave trade, particularly Africans and other people of colour all over the world, to forgive the heinous crimes against their forebears by traders and slave owners of that ignoble era. But he also stated that a day like this reinforces the need for deep sober reflection, not just for victims alone but for the entire world.
Peterside, who made the call in Abuja in his massage to mark the International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition, said though the world has long moved on, Africans and other casualties of slave trade must not forget that dishonourable past that threatened their humanity and existence.
“Today, we remember African slaves and other people who, some centuries ago, and under very humiliating conditions, were forced on a journey of no return to the New World as labourers.
“No experience would have been more shattering especially when one considers the fact that these slaves were uprooted from their homes and taken into captivity, essentially for profit. Hundreds of years have passed but the scars of slave trade are all too evident and still fresh because of developments across the world today. For instance, issues of human trafficking and modern day slavery are still widespread. This is the reason world leaders and others in authority owe our common world, the duty of working for the freedom of all.
“Therefore it is imperative as we mark this day, to condemn unequivocally, modern day slavery and racially motivated crimes wherever they are found in the world. In recent times, many people of colour have lost their lives to police brutality and organised crime. Acts, such as these, diminish humanity and we must join hands to ensure that our world becomes safer and better.
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“In conclusion, we must not fail to remember those who worked tirelessly to end slave trade. Worthy of note here were great African abolitionists like Olaudah Equiano, Quobna Ottobah Cugoano and Ignatius Sancho for inspiring hope and founding the group: “The Sons of Africa” that campaigned for abolition. We also remember today as always, John Wesley and his Methodist Movement, and other non African abolitionists who supported the fight against slave trade. Their efforts and contributions changed the history of the world and they will forever be remembered for taking a stand”, he said.
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