Quest for True Unity
I
feel sad that we celebrated Inauguration yesterday 29th, we will celebrate
Democracy 12th of June & today 30th of May, a section of Nigeria
is celebrating Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day.
I
don't blame them. They simply need closure and proper healing to a wound that
is still fresh even after 49 years.
Time never heals, it only numbs the
pain
That a section of Nigeria is celebrating Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day speaks of a large chasm that is getting wider by the day due to the conspiracy of silence of decision makers in our country.
Why do we have to pretend that 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970 is not a critical part of our history?
I still can't get why it is not a critical part of our primary and secondary curriculum?
How
the heck is the coming generation supposed to know the mistakes, hubris, and the foolishness of our grandfathers, fathers, and uncles that caused agony to the country for 3 years?
How do you explain the reason why though your name is Uche, from Delta state but vehemently disagree when you are called Igbo?
How
do I explain to my son who is Yoruba the reason why there is untold traffic at
transport lines and airports headed to the eastern part of Nigeria during
elections? Is it patriotism to vote or lucid fear that should there break out
of crisis, they might be the first hit?
How would you explain to your little cousin who is from Ikwerre the reason behind some of the change of names in your town and villages between 1967 and 1970?
How do you as a teacher with pupils from Kano, Osun, and Anambra explain to them that they don't have to inherit the animosity handed down to them. That they need to do away with the bigotry and prejudices in order to properly deal with more serious issues. To not be encumbered with trivia issues like "state of origin" and collectively and as a matter of urgency pull our weights in the right direction.
How
can we avoid further pitfalls if we cannot freely teach our children in schools
that once upon a time, our grandfathers, fathers, and uncles were not too reasonable and that
left the nation scarred?
Is it by establishing Unity Schools or
creating NYSC scheme that the people don't understand the reason why?
Until the decision makers in our country can come up with a single harmonious narrative that would teach our children that WAR is ugly, our motto which is ...Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress will be...
In unity lies our strength. We are stronger
in diversity.
As
we transit into a new tenure, I pray for divine wisdom for our leaders to create a structure that
would foster PEACE indeed!
