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“Strength In Our Diversity” By Peter Pacqueens Aisagbonhi
Being a speech delivered at the NAS Jos, Annual Conference ( Feast of Barracuda) on the 5th December, 2009 by Mr, Peter Pacqueens Aisagbonhi, the Coordinator Anti- Corruption League UK. Nigeria: Positive aspects of multiculturalism
“I have seen enough in Nigeria to know that it is not somebody’s “tribe and tongue” that matters but what they have to offer. If a leader is doing well in office, Nigerians hardly discuss the sectional issues. I know in my heart of heart that what Nigeria needs is a leader that can make things happen – the real issue is not North or South, man or woman, Ijaw or Fulani. We know this very well. We only pretend not to know because of political sentiments.” By Simon Kolawole of This day Newspaper
Today, especially considering the recent riotous past of this city situated on the most beautiful plateau of Nigeria, I am not here to score any controversial point. Rather, I find it important to make a direct appeal to the residents and people of Jos and beyond, who share the view that we can live together. My paper may contain unpalatable statements, but please have an open mind and take no offence. In this country we are naturally distinguished and united by differences and similarities. According to gender, age, language, culture, tribe, religion, geography, and even income level. Such diversity must be seen as positives that challenge our intellect and emotions as we learn to work and live together in peace and unity. I chose to define diversity based on my perceived idea of culture and not necessarily the traditional culture of the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. Diversity is the totality of positive socially transmitted behavior, patterns, beliefs, institutions and other aspects of our humanity, which generates positive thoughts and actions for the benefit of the general good of our community.
Cultural diversity is a common heritage of our humanity. Culture takes diverse forms across time and space. This diversity is embodied in the uniqueness and plurality of the identities of the groups and societies making up our Nigeria nation. As a source of exchange, innovation and creativity, our diversity defines the uniqueness of our nationhood. In this sense, it is for the common heritage of our humanity and collective good that diversity should be recognized and affirmed for the positive development of the present and future generations of Nigerians.
I note with some regret that cultural diversity is at the centre of contemporary debates about identity, our social cohesion, and even the development of our communities. It is regrettable because focus should be on the common enemy, which is lack of infrastructures, corruption, bad roads, etc.
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. I think, 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 oft 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 adds to the flourishing of creative capacities that should sustain national unity and progress.
We all know that, constant electricity will create jobs, just as the elimination of corruption is vitality for a better civil society, reduction of poverty, peace and stability. Diversity, both cultural and even religious, can be imperative in the socio-political development of a country. Diversity, especially the positive aspect, widens the range of options open to everyone including governments. It can be understood not only in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral spiritual and economic existence Nigeria is a multicultural nation. Consequently, for our coexistence and as a task, we must all encourage and ensure a positive understanding of the different cultures. The Internet has made the world a global village and multicultural coexistence inevitable. It is now a question of who learns fastest takes the best seat in the house. On the issue of multicultural coexistence, Jos should have been the best example in the land. Unfortunately the recent events are a stain. Mark Goldring says:
At a time when community and cultural relations have been put under huge strain, we must offer people a way to repair the damage. Far too much emphasis has been put on government policy to provide solutions. This is not the only answer, what we need is practical action and personal commitment from us all as individuals and groups.. Believing that we can all live together it is just a matter of understanding
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 conflict inevitably occurs. As has been the case 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 of group identification can trigger violent conflicts especially when mobilized and manipulated to do so. Therefore in the cause of nation-building we must not seek to make all groups homogeneous. Oh no! No need! Just make them economically happy as in Canada. Allowing one group to dominate the other - is neither desirable nor even feasible. Canada as a nation believes in cultural diversity and went ahead to create a sense of itself as a civic community, freed from any connotations of ethnic superiority. All its policy approaches are to be found in this most important understanding.
Conflict caused by differing cultural, religious and political groups is too common a trend in this beautiful city of Jos, by my last count, one every seven years. We the people must resolve that it must stop. We can stop it by continuous dialogue. 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.
To be fair, even though government can do more, democracy has provided an enabling environment for different cultures and nationalities to thrive. This comes with responsibilities too. To manage this responsibility, we must educate ourselves. There can be no doubt that the core foundation of every community is the level of education of its members (although some would say women, not members) and I do see their point. Education is a powerful tool for social/cultural transformation. Education plays a very important role in achieving a more progressive unity from our diversity.
I am advocating an individual and family policy of education education education, education of good values. The success will manifest in the growth of culture and civility, public enlightenment and economic development, through the empowerment of the individual and his transformation into a creative and responsible citizen. Education should serve as a prerequisite for good governance. It serves the purpose of preparation for civic responsibility.
Beyond merely providing the foundations for broadened knowledge and fact, education is the basis for socialization and conflict resolution. Education is responsible for creating spaces for people to interact, socialize and work on unity and consensus building. Teaching good values will effectively bring about positive multiculturalism, raise our human resource profile and offer the immediate community specific advantages, especially in terms of human capacity, and uplift a societal cultural awareness of thought and I dare say acceptance and national unity. In Jos, what is really at stake? Is it religion, ethnic superiority, indigenes/settlers or politics? None of the above! Ladies and Gentlemen, It is corruption. Please hear me out. I was brought up to believe, that the love of money is the root of all evil. Money politics has removed our sense of decency and eroded some of our religious values. I put it to you all that just as corruption is the main problem in this country, so it is with all the religious/ethnic uprisings. I take the position akin to late Pa John Amata’s that, if we remove corruption from the Nigerian polity, if not as a state policy, we will reach the Promised Land soon enough. Ravi Batra, an economics professor at Southern Methodist University and author of The New Golden Age: The Coming Revolution Against Political Corruption and Economic Chaos advised that everyone with a religious conscience especially journalists should investigate such issues as how political corruption creates poverty and how politicians exploit religion to get elected and then adopt policies to benefit themselves and their families alone. And in between manipulate the same people in the name of politics, religion and ethnicity to cause mayhem in an otherwise cordial community. Moslems and Christians as well as all ethnic groups must understand they have a common enemy and preach to their followers to help build a nation that has a zero tolerance for corruption thereby paving way for a wholesome national development.
To the average Christian or Moslem, the biggest enemy is corruption and those who help to perpetuate it. These perpetuators are torturing us and we let them. They are increasing in numbers every day, especially as politicians. They delight in seeing other Nigerians suffer. Professor Mankanju calls them sadists. These Nigerian torturers are sadists of a special kind. They have, by living in Mansions; driving tinted jeeps with police escorts overcome the human repulsion to the pain and suffering of other millions of Nigerians. The urge to alleviate misery caused by poverty which (as far as I am concerned) is brought about by corruption, is totally suppressed. Any Nigerian who is below them (and there are millions) is gradually being stripped of his or her humanity. The victim (no matter the religion, tribe or gender) is a thing to be toyed with. These politicians do not alleviate anything, but instead apply more pain and suffering, cruelty and hatred. This they do, by diverting our resources meant for education, health, shelter, good road and even basic salaries into their own bank accounts.
Who actually invented religious enmity in this country, when the two main religions preach love and peace? We have coexisted for years long enough to have seen in the past, a Moslem Hausa man win an election many times in the South and vice versa. Even a moslem moslem presidential ticket was largely successful in this country a few years back. What has changed? It is my view that the corrupt intentions of some of our very insane leaders, bring about not just religious intolerance but outright religious/ethnic dispute and fights.
Everything has been turned into a game, including our suffering and even death of both Christians and Moslems, in the face of no Light, no water, no good roads. Is it not Christians and Moslems that get stuck at Benin Ore road, suffering, crying and many dead. Right now, we do not even have mere consulting clinics to go to, yet we have enough for our needs but never enough for their greed. Merrily merrily I say unto you, get rid of corruption and we can eliminate religious/ethnic riots.
In conclusion, when we look at Jos of those days, Jos where many people I know learnt how to speak Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa as a matter of routine, we must appreciate a positive culture that we all must strive to preserve. A culture of civility existed in Jos until seen and unseen hands of manipulation crept into our polity.
My appeal is, we can either revive that age of chivalry or even try and make it better. As educated Nigerians, we must contribute our positive cultural quota whether we live here or not. Better for us and better for our children and the future of Nigeria.
Mistakes were made in Jos riots, but we must not allow them to persist. We must rethink our national identity to mean “I live here, was born here, work here, married here and therefore this is my community I will contribute to make it better.” We must recognise that all communities are bound to change. We therefore must help it to change for the better.
We must recognise and uphold the balance between cohesion, diversity and equality. Dialogue and accept our differences in other to encourage all best practices from those differences. We must be united on the call for the reduction of economic inequality by the elimination of corruption from our polity. Thus we move, to build a viable and progressive community from our diversity. With courage, God and events like this, we can and we will build a better Nigeria from our diversity.
God bless you all and God bless Nigeria. Peter Pacqueens Aisagbonhi |