For a lasting peace on the Plateau

The hardening of positions by all sides to the conflict, the justification of the reprisals and now, the unceasing daily slaughter by those drawn to the conflict reflects the volatility of any clash in which religion and ethnicity are used as fuel. In spite of denials, the truth is that the crisis has spread to […]

The hardening of positions by all sides to the conflict, the justification of the reprisals and now, the unceasing daily slaughter by those drawn to the conflict reflects the volatility of any clash in which religion and ethnicity are used as fuel. In spite of denials, the truth is that the crisis has spread to neighbouring states. There are displaced persons and in two states, Bauchi and Kaduna, there have been attacks even if they are not dubbed reprisal, the semblance is undeniable. Innocent passengers using routes within the axis now have to say their last prayers as their routine journey could end up being their last. Human life, that sanctimonious gift of God, has become a disposable and dispensable commodity even though none of us can replace a hair on our own heads.

Truth is our country is gradually being engulfed in a crisis of mutual suspicion in which mankind can only be the ultimate loser. Observers seek to know how we have degenerated to such base levels. Our genie of tranquility has been let out of the bottle and politics makes it impossible to even attempt to recapture it. Unfortunately, this crisis does not go away if we simply ignore it.

For as long as we have not agreed to balkanize this nation, there is no way we can draw a standing boundary based either on ethnic or religious affinity. This is why leaders of the Plateau, be they settlers, visitors or natives, need to constitute themselves into vigilance groups and champions of peace. Except we agree to stop the carnage, this crisis will engulf us all. It is shameful to hear the voice of partiality of all of us who have made comments. I am amazed that nobody has tried to calm frayed nerves and appeal to our sense of humanity or campaign for calm. We cannot reach any destination if we continue to trade blames instead of finding a lasting solution to this monumental catastrophe. All residents of the Plateau should meet, quarter by quarter and street by street to take stock of what this crisis has cost them. They should look beyond the mad but natural quest for vengeance at the overall effect of the perpetration of this crisis and act accordingly.

By now, I thought that Christians would have called their Moslem counterparts for a peace meeting to the church and vice versa in a real gesture of love and dogged determination to re-instate the atmosphere of peace and calm ingredients needed for personal survival, the pursuit of individual happiness, the peace and the progress that all societies need. It is time to be our brother’s keeper. The wounds that have been inflicted are very deep and the scars can never heal naturally except we work extra hours at it. The dead cannot be brought back to life, but a semblance of justice, such as the trial of suspects will serve as foundation for the re-establishment of hope and assurance that criminality will never go unpunished. Justice is not and can never serve as restitution.

Houses and property that have been destroyed can never be reversed, but a little help for those who have lost property to rebuild may restore hope and confidence. Government must establish a common purse for donations to come from all parts of the country. The money and relief materials so realized must be administered by an impartial committee made of men and women of proven integrity from all backgrounds and they must adopt the attitude of from each according to his loss to each according to what is available. To my mind, all hope is not lost. We can use the ashes of our distrust as raw material to rebuild the tower of hope and extend the elasticity of the human spirit.

We have all sinned and come short of the divine dictates of human existence. We must all seek the face of God for forgiveness. Nigeria is a strong nation of faith; I envisage an interdenominational service held over a period of deep mourning and reflection. I envisage a situation where Christians stand guard while their Moslem brothers and sisters say their Juma’at prayers and Moslems reciprocate on Sundays while their Christian brothers fellowship with victory dance afterwards. We, other Nigerians, would gladly join them in fasting and in prayer for forgiveness, but the people of the Plateau must first make the move. Every Nigerian who is touched one way or another by the crisis on the Plateau, rekindling hope should be our collective responsibility and the task of all. Let us hope that with peace-building efforts, we can look back at the Plateau as the home of peace, tourism and harmony.