CATALYSTS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DIALOGUE IN NIGERIA

SELFLESSNESS, SELF-RELIANCE, LOVE AMONG OTHERS:

 CATALYSTS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DIALOGUE IN NIGERIA.

 

With a painstaking attention, one would have noticed that selfishness has eaten deep in the activities of average rich men in the country. Today we have the rich as the friends of the rich, the rich marry the rich, the rich live in the city with the rich and they buy and sell at the market of the rich. You see that there is barely a contact between the rich and poor in the society. The point here is, selflessness should be seen as a sacrosanct weapon for fostering a relatively peaceful society. How? When the rich are concerned with the unease of the poor, they will cater for their needs in terms of providing food, shelter and education thereby curtailing or eradicating hardship which is the basic of a peaceful society. Then, hunger will not tempt the youths to go outlaw and the need of involving the common man in public opinion will arise thus, peaceful and reconstructive dialogue will be achieved. Imagine what happens if average rich men partake in the responsibility of the government by establishing more industries here in Nigeria for youth employment. Imagine when we have Ten of Aliko Dangote in Nigeria. Selflessness will nudge everyone to contribute to the peace and progress of the country (Nigeria).

Relatedly, a glimpse of the creative industries the (Nigerian Music and Movie Industries), you get sullen and despaired by their valueless contents. Majority of the musicians have until now neglected the unease of the people. Their lyrics are self-centered as they rather sing for money than passion and impact. The subject matter in films is not usually centered on issues that relieve the hardship of the people. History of heroes is now buried in the mud and stories that should unite the country are abandoned for trivialities. It should be stamped in mind that what it takes is selflessness that will allow for even distribution of resources and collective responsibility.

The initiation of the Good Friday Agreement (G.F.A.) also known as Belfast, a Move initiated for a relatively end to the troubles in Northern Ireland on April 10, 1998 might not have come true if selfless love did not hatch in the hearts of the founder(s). Such organizations as the Organization of African Unity, Commonwealth Nations, Pan African Movement, Nigerian Youth Movement and among others might not have been birthed if there was no love to create concern for the troubles of other nations and the people.

The G.F.A. currently however, could be prone to distraction if the ‘hard border’ plan in Ireland is achieved. The idea of imposing a hard border between north and south as a result of Brexit would tamper its settlement, frustrate the political balances vital to it and capsize the popular consent that endorsed it. As this 20th anniversary recalls the meaningful achievements of the union, the plan to impose this hard border should be rejected amicably. The government should consider the life-changing impacts it has achieved so far and participate in its peaceful continuity. If other achievements can be forgotten, the end of a thirty year Sectarian Conflict which has been one of the key achievements of the Belfast can never be overemphasized. This is when love of the ordinary life plays out. Let us see the view of the government over a perceived threat to such great union as the ‘Good Friday Agreement.’

Love will definitely prompt peaceful reconciliation. The need to invest on the youths will arise in the minds of the leaders and wealthy citizens if love of country becomes prominent. It will breed friendly relationship among Nigeria and other countries in the world thereby promoting growth and development. It will curtail the increasingly rate of brain drain which retards growth and development across the nation. Thus, if an act of humanity becomes a doing of every individual, there will be an absolute peace in the country. Violence will end because love is power-a greatest weapon to prevent war and all forms of crisis.

Youths should be empowered and made self-reliant. With the increasingly rate of unemployment across the nation, the need for everyone to become self-reliant becomes important. Trade should be encouraged among the youths. The government should promote such trade by sponsoring creativity of the youths; building vocational training centre. Viewing from the failure of the government to provide adequate employment opportunity, more interest should be geared towards making especially the youths self-reliant in order to harness crime rate across the country.

There is also more to gain than lose when the youths are recognized in politics. The politics of the country should embrace their supports. Their participation should not be to their detriment. It should not be a medium to kill them and abuse their positive intensions towards their country. This can be achieved when aged leaders can step down for competent and qualified youths in power. In that wise, the responsibility to train the youths will set in and seminars would be organized regularly to inculcate political values in them not only election periods. It is said that youths are the leaders of tomorrow but here is tomorrow where they are denied their due responsibility.

Conclusively, my role (s) to play in fostering sustainable peace and dialogue in Nigeria as a musician for instance, I will centre my lyrics on issues that affect the masses. They will be such that proffer possible solution(s) to their unease. As a rich man, I will invest massively in my country for the jobless ones. As an author I will constructively expose the ills of my society that retard her progress. My work will focus on uniting and rebranding the country. As a doctor, I will maintain my country to ensure benefit from my service. All this I will do by virtue of love and selflessness.

Love and selflessness cannot be separated from peace and progress in Nigeria.

I wish the G.F.A. a happy 20th anniversary.

Ochai G. Isaac.