Mutually Assured Survival

By

Michael Faniran

Michael.Faniran@honeywellgroup.com

 

 

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it. J. Joubert

 

 

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Western nations led by the United States of America were in a perpetual state of Cold War with Warsaw Pact countries under the control of the now-defunct Soviet Union.  For nearly half a century, on both sides of the so-called Iron Curtain separating these adversaries were thousands of ready-to-launch nuclear missiles aimed at each other.  Cold War warriors euphemistically referred to this standoff as a state of mutually-assured destruction (MAD).  Had the Cold War turned hot, all nations including members of the self-styled Non-aligned Movement would almost certainly have partaken in the fallout.  Fortunately for mankind, the superpowers chose to sheathe their weapons of war and have gingerly inched towards a state of wary co-existence, shored up by reductive arms treaties.

 

Ever since Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain, it would appear that we have occasionally tempted providence and periodically edged towards our own version of mutually-assured destruction.  Seemingly locked in mortal battle along geographical, tribal, religious, class and ideological lines, we have squabbled about leadership rotation, resource control and just about everything under the sun.  Taking advantage of an ambience poisoned by mutual distrust and antipathy, military opportunists, egged on by their civilian co-conspirators, placed us under their heavy jackboot of repression and despotic rule for decades.   

 

Have we finally learnt our lessons?  Are our eyes now wide open?  When we look in the mirror, do we now recognise who the real enemy is?  Do we now realise that for far too long we have been our own worst enemies?  Or are we still mired in the politics of old, characterised by ignorance, intolerance, corruption and retrogression?  Why can’t we acknowledge the inevitability of our co-existence, and view it as a source of strength rather than a hindrance?

 

Rome was not built in a day.  While it is easy to destroy, it is infinitely more difficult to build.  As a nation, we urgently need to inject into our polity big doses of realism, foresight, probity, and a sense of fair play.  It does not require a genius to tell us what may seem obvious but it helps that Albert Einstein, the world-famous physicist and Nobel Prize winner, came up with this observation:

 

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the

same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

 

 

Most of the basic problems dividing us today have their roots in yesteryears but it is illogical and absurd to keep prescribing the same old, tired solutions that did not work in the past.  Our leaders, in particular, need to raise the quality of their analytical reasoning and take a collective leap of imagination about the type of country we want to bequeath to future generations.  For once, let us look beyond our naked self-interests and try to envision a new Nigeria, a truly civilised and flourishing land under the rule of law.  The foundation for this still-imaginary future must be laid now.

 

However, it will be a fantasy to expect that we can resolve all issues bedevilling us in one fell swoop.  We need to move beyond parochialism and rigid impulses; instead, in the spirit of give-and-take, let us learn to be more benevolent and accommodating with one another.  Nigerians’ intermittent hue and cry, stemming from a deep-seated fear of domination and marginalisation, must not be brushed aside.  This primordial instinct is at the heart of much of our fellow citizens’ sense of anxiety and alienation.  To alleviate these concerns, self-respecting and honest leaders should have the courage to enlighten our people that durable economic progress will be achieved only if we judiciously leverage the creativity and energy of millions of hard-working Nigerians.  Indolence and parasitic behaviour are the antitheses of a vibrant and serious nation.

 

As the National Political Reforms Conference winds down, let us endeavour to accentuate the positive.  We should always remember where we are coming from and how far we still have to travel.  The fact that the majority staunchly believe that the present Nigerian Constitution – the fundamental principles and laws of our nation – is flawed is a reflection of our past history.  That should not come as a surprise since the process employed in crafting the document was spurious and defective.  Building on the outcome of this conference, we must earnestly seek consensus and gravitate towards unifying positions, even when key recommendations do not fully meet our individual expectations.

 

We have only taken a few short steps on a long, winding road leading to what will hopefully be a glorious future.  Along the way, we will argue and disagree, and we may even quarrel, but let us do so honourably.  Nigeria is a blessed nation and, with everyone pulling together and God helping us, mutually-assured peace and prosperity shall be our destiny.

 

LET US PRAY

 

Dear God, we are thankful for our hard-won liberation from tyranny, which guarantees us the freedom of expression and association.  Give us the wisdom to count our blessings, to shelve all forms of destructive tendencies, and to rally as one for the common good.  Even as we deliberate on burning national issues and contemplate what lies ahead, fortify us with Your divine spirit and guide us to


 

achieve unity and progress underpinned by reciprocal love and respect.