Ex-Nigerian newspaper editor protests anti-Black racism in Canada

A Nigerian journalist, Chief Olufemi Shodunke, has staged a one-man protest against an alleged anti-Black racism in Canada.

Chief Shodunke, a one-time Deputy Editor of the Nigerian Compass on Sunday, stormed the court house and the popular road, Franklin Avenue, in the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta Province in Canada last Friday with placard that reads “Stop anti-black racism in Alberta & Canada’s justice system.”

The journalist, now a Canadian citizen and former two-term President of Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc. (OPAC), condemned the rate of alleged anti-Black judgments by majorly White judges and decision makers in the various tribunals and courts in Alberta, in particular, and Canada, in general.

Chief Shodunke, who dressed in his native Nigerian popular “kampala” attire flowing gown, often called “agbada” with his chieftaincy beads, stated that he could no longer watch how the Black people were being allegedly treated within the justice system in the North American country.

At the court house, he disclosed that his decision, to staged the one-man protest, was not only to condemn the alleged act, but to sensitize the people by drawing their attention to the alleged despicable incident.

His words: “Definitely, I am just protesting today against anti-Black racism within the justice system in Alberta and in Canada. I am doing this because I have experienced it and I am still experiencing it.”

According to him, he had written to various levels of government without the necessary response, hence his decision to embark on the one-man protest.

He declared: “And I have written to government about it. Nothing has been done, and that is why I am sensitizing the people of Fort McMurray, Alberta and Canada, and across the globe on what is going on in Canada.”

The journalist, who narrowly escaped assassination attempt in 2010 in Nigeria before fleeing to Canada, insisted that there was alleged anti-Black racism in the justice system using his experience and a few others as yardsticks to protest the development.

“There is anti-Black racism within the justice system. I know what I am talking about. I have pieces of evidence to support this,” Chief Shodunke, who was the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel and Nigerian Compass Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council,

The journalist, a one-tine National Public Relations Officer of Egba National Association USA and Canada, further said: “That is why I am protesting today. I am embarking on one-man protest. If it is only me that is sensitizing the people I am ready, I am ready to do it.”

He emphasised that justice should be for everyone in view of Canada’s constitutional belief in equality under the law.

“Justice is for everybody; we are all equal in this country,” Chief Shodunke, who is the Baaroyin of Igbeinland and often called “Oluwo”, said.

The former NUJ Chapel Chairman added: “This is a country of immigrants, both Black and White and we have to respect our cultures, we have to respect our religions no matter the situation.

“Equality is for everyone. That is what we stand for in Canada. That is what our country stands for; I am a Canadian citizen and I have the right. We want equality in this country.”

According to him, he would be providing detailed analyses of his allegations, which he said “would be shocking revelations” later in view of the facts that some of them may be subjudice due to a pending judgment and possible litigations to commence in court soon.

He added that in order to support the alleged level of racism and discrimination he is protesting against, during the protest, a White elderly man in light green coloured car blurted at him angrily: “That is what you paid for by coming here.”

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“Indeed, I care not about that. I just looked away and continued with my protest because there were others who commended my effort. We can not do without such a few of the members within the community who has morbidly incurable dislike or hatred for Black people in this country,” Chief Shodunke, who is also the Baaroyin of Agbon, stressed.

It would be recalled that Chief Shodunke is not new to protest. He had joined others to protest against racism and discrimination in Canada in 2020 during the gruesome murder of a US citizen, George Floyd.

NOTE (This is not part of the story, just an advice): Find these newspaper links to support my claim of previous protest against anti-Black racism in Canada: See The Eagle Online newspaper of June 18, 2020 with the title Ex-Nigerian Editor ready for war against anti-black, racism in Canada, Nigeria (https://theeagleonline.com.ng/ex-nigerian-editor-ready-for-war-against-anti-black-racism-in-canada-nigeria/) and Nigerian-canadian Journalist Wages War Against Anti-black, Racism, Discrimination (https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/289027/nigerian-canadian-journalist-wages-war-against-anti-black-r.html).

Also, please I should be identified as “Chief Olufemi Shodunke” in the story as it is one of the matters for protesting and in court. This is because if the court system could recognize “Chief” status for indigenous people of Canada, they must do the same for others, particularly we Africans, who live in Canada, in line with our main law: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms section 2(a) and 27. Refusal to use the title, in the Nigerian media, can weaken the arguments in court for this recognition. Please, kindly note this.