Nigeria: Picking Peace Out Of These Pieces

Editor’s note: This guest post is written by Olusegun Dada, he is an upcoming writer, blogger and public affairs commentator.

Many factors usually lead to conflicts all over the world, but in Nigeria, the Niger Delta struggles for self-determination, ethnicity and Religion remain top on the list. In the recent past, religious crises in the Northern parts of the country have overshadowed the Militancy of the Niger Delta –which only subsided due to the amnesty programme of the Yar Adua-led Federal government.

Nigeria is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse African countries with an estimated population of over 150 million, consisting of many distinct ethno-linguistic groups and split almost evenly between Muslims and Christians. These groups constitute a complex interaction of social, political and economic diversity. The reasons for conflicts are as complex as they are multi-layered. Even after the advent of civil rule in 1999, Nigeria recorded violent conflicts that left her with devastating human, economic and socio-political consequences considered by some to have strong ethnic, religious and resource control linkages. The violent conflicts posed a major threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.

Yet that threat isn’t averted. If anything, it has multiplied and amplified our weak foundation as a nation. The daring activities of Boko Haram have once again brought to the fore the need for true governance from the people who govern Nigeria. Just last week, Yobe State fell victim to the massacre of Boko Haram.

We are yet to clearly understand the reasons for the Islamists’ engaging in extreme violence but some analysts think they are protesting the opposition of some Christians to the introduction of sharia legal system in some parts of the North in 1999 and 2000; the decision of the US to invade Afghanistan in 2001; and the effrontery of a Danish newspaper, the Jyllands-Posten, to publish some cartoons on Prophet Mohammed in 2005.

Attempts had been made in the past to curb their activities or even wipe them out from the society and this manifested during many of the counter-insurgency operations launched against them by the Nigerian Army and Police. The most pronounced case was the 2009 crisis in Borno State during which many of the “fundamentalists” were tracked down and openly executed by the military. Now, Boko Haram has renewed its strategies and carries series of attacks on innocent Nigerians all in a bid to prove a point. One of the outfits with which they made a strong statement was the recent attack on UN building in Abuja that left scores of people dead and hundreds injured.

It is natural of those who see every national challenge from religious and/or ethnic prisms to conclude that Boko Haram’s activities stemmed from the fact that a Southern Christian is the president. Yet we know that nothing is far from the truth. The first time the sect openly struck, a Northern Muslim was at the helm of affairs as Nigeria’s president. The real issue is not North or South, the issue should be whether we would be where we are today if we had gotten the act of governance right. If we are presently getting the act of governance right, would we be facing these very critical challenges?

Nigeria, like any other ethnically diverse country, should be naturally distinguished and united by our many differences. Such diversity must be seen as positives that should challenge our intellect and emotions as we learn to work and live together in peace and unity. Our pride as a people should be anchored on the unique selling point of each of the ethnic nationalities. And interestingly, we have them in abundance. Those who remember when Nigeria was still working can easily tell you that groundnuts from the North, Palm oil from the East and Cocoa from the West did the magic. Today, those commodities are still there, we only chose to ignore them because of the greed of those in government.

Even in our diversity, we can find peace and development. Diversity is the totality of positive socially transmitted behavior, patterns, beliefs, institutions and other aspects of our humanity, which generate positive thoughts and actions for the benefit of the general good of our community.

In any diverse society such as Nigeria, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities. Accepting our humanity first and foremost should give policy expression to the reality of our diversity. Policies that are designed for the inclusion and participation of all citizens irrespective of differences can guarantee social cohesion. Such policies when well thought out can check the ill tactics of divide and rule often employed by politicians. In any democratic framework, there must be strength in diversity; this is because our communal needs are conducive to cultural exchanges, which add to the flourishing of creative capacities that should sustain national unity and progress.

A major problem that relates commonly to the issue of diversity is the search for equity. There is a friction in balancing diversity and equity. Often, conflicts inevitably occur, as has been the case with Nigeria since time immemorial. Differences in ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, language or political affiliation have all been at the root of conflict. Any form of group identification, ethnic, religious, social and other forms can trigger violent conflicts especially when people are mobilized and manipulated to do so.

Dialogue of any kind, intercultural, religious, political or social, is a prerequisite for, and a cornerstone of, our unity, peace and progress. We must continuously call for greater dialogue among people with a shared humanity and better understanding of other cultures, in other to ensure a more rapid integration of socioeconomic ties between communities. Dialogue will also help us to focus on who the enemy really is and what they
are up to in making us forever poor and powerless.

One Comment

1. 

   Ba55e4

   December 18, 2011 at 5:22 pm

   Hmm! Ok, nice right up. Quite centrally cut! Good!