Accusation Quote by Chinua Achebe
“Almost 30 years before Rwanda, before Darfur, more than 2 million people – mothers, children, babies, civilians – lost their lives as a result of the blatantly callous and unnecessary policies enacted by the leaders of the federal government of Nigeria. It’s this charge that’s dominated the book’s Nigerian press, so far as I can see, the accusation, on the one hand, that Awolowo hatched “a diabolical policy to reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation — eliminating over two million people, mainly members of future generations,”
About This Quote
Source Book: Things Fall Apart, 1958
The quote condemns the Nigerian government's policies that caused massive civilian deaths, likening them to deliberate starvation of enemies.
In simple terms: Government policies caused millions of civilian deaths through starvation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and oppose policies that harm civilians.
Themes
human rights
government policy
genocide
history
accountability
Mood
ougrief
outrage
determination
Type
historical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- humanitarian crises
- policy analysis
- historical research
- advocacy
- education
Key Concepts
political oppression
mass murder
state violence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies hold leaders accountable for mass atrocities?
- What evidence supports or refutes this claim?
A Different Perspective
The claim may be contested by differing historical interpretations.
![“The report [by a UN commission on Darfur] demonstrates beyond all doubt that the last two years have been little short of hell on earth for our fellow human beings in Darfur.” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e46/kofi-annan-799_darfur_the-report-by-a-un-commission-on-darfur_118457.jpg)
