By Alli Smarts
The title of this piece, ‘Amaka disappoint me!’ was adapted from Amaka, one of the singles released in June 2018 by the Afro hip pop artist 2Baba featuring Peruzzi.
In that sensational hit track released under Tuface Idibia’s record label Hypertek Digital, he rued the day his inamorata – Amaka, literally stood him up after earnestly waiting for her so he could show her off to his folks either in prep for the wedding engagement proper or something of sort.
So lovelorn was the Idoma descendant that he had to vent his disappointment with his beau in this lyrical verse thus:
_A-A-Amaka disappoint me
But nyeneke confusion
Nyom kem disappointment oh
Amaka disappoint me
Nyom kem confusion
Amaka disappoint me
But nyeneke disappointment oh_
Before I proceed, here is a quick disclaimer: The author of this piece unlike 2Baba is not sulking over a love gone sour. Yours truly is merely expressing his angst over a different person whose only semblance to the subject matter of Tuface Idibia’s song is in the name-Amaka.
Still wondering what this is all about? Well, a penny for your thoughts. The subject matter of this discourse is Amaka Patience Sunnberger, the 46-years-old Canadian-Nigerian, who threatened to send Nigerians of Yoruba and Edo descent to their untimely graves for reasons best known to her.
Precisely on Sunday, August 25th, 2024, in a viral Tiktok video Amaka allegedly swore with her full chest that she would deal with fellow Nigerians anywhere she comes across them in her country of residence –Canada, and even asked those goading her on to do the same thing- annihilate them all: the Benins and Yorubas.
In the Tiktok video which she has since deleted, Amaka in a fit of unmistaken anger over what she described as perceived “hatred for the Igbos” dared anyone to challenge her spoke in staccato English:
“ _Record me very very well. It’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and Benin. Put poison for all una food for work. Put poison for una water and make una dey kpai one by one. Una no go kpai one day! Una go sicky sicky. I go put otapiapia for inside una water, inside una food. Una no go see better.
“I want to make Ndi Igbo get that heart of wickedness. Una too dey quiet. Enough is enough! If you have any means of kpaing them, kpai them comot for the road. This kain hate wey I get for una so, e go last forever…!”
_
Anyone who listened to those rants would certainly get goosebumps afterwards. To say that yours truly was dumbfounded is to say the least.
Truth is, the first impression I got was that here is one crackpot who perhaps may have escaped from a lunatic asylum. Of course, it is only someone with demented soul that would come out in the open to threaten the lives of others simply because they have differences, sadly in a strange man’s land!
To make matters worse, she would latter claim that she is untouchable when concerned Nigerians both resident in Canada and elsewhere made strident calls for her deportation to Nigeria.
As to be expected, the Toronto Police Service took her into custody on Sunday. She is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated criminal and if convicted could face significant legal consequences because uttering threats, a serious offense under the Canadian law.
The information on police website read, “Toronto Police have arrested a woman in connection with a suspected hate-motivated threat investigation. The arrest follows a report received on August 28, 2024, regarding a threatening incident. Authorities allege that on or around August 25, 2024, Amaka Sonnberger, 46, of Toronto, posted online content threatening the lives of specific members of the Nigerian community.
“Sonnberger was taken into custody on September 1, 2024. She is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 2, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at 2201 Finch Avenue West.”
The police added that she has been charged with uttering threats and that “the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence. Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-3500 or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.”
The police added that “when suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation could be led by a Divisional Investigator with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), or in some cases, will be investigated exclusively by the HCU.
“If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed (such as assault or mischief) and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.
“Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.”
Incidentally, the chairman of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa was one of those who revealed identity of Sunnberger as the woman behind threatening comments against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin ethics.
Then followed the petition by the House of Representatives to the Canadian government, imploring it to probe Sunnberger over threats and hate speech against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin ethnic groups.
The letter signed by Biodun Omoleye and Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, stated Sunnberger’s comments constitute threat to Nigerians.
“On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada.
“Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide.”
The letter added that Sunnberger’s recorded statements constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians.
It further indicated Sunnberger violated Canadian, Ontario laws, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, amongst others laws.
With the sword of Damocles literally dangling on Amaka’s head, pray, would she survive the damning verdict likely to be passed by the judges? The answer, I daresay is blowing in the wings of time.
All said, methinks Amaka is going to be used as a guinea pig for all misanthropes and haters of humanity smugly indifferent to the pains and agonies of others.
But sadly, Amaka is not alone. There are many of her ilk like Simon Ekpa, the self-appointed Biafra agitator who has promised to defend her, is one person who needs to face the law and very fast too!
The world would certainly be a better place if we all learn to be tolerant of others living within and around us.
*Alli Smarts is a public affairs analyst