Let’s set an agenda for peace

Sociologists and para-psychologists have often contended that any job, any job at all, any human activity, could be done and accomplished within the time and the space available to do it. When you translate this to the current electoral schedule in the country today, it is obvious why everybody is very hopeful that despite the […]

Sociologists and para-psychologists have often contended that any job, any job at all, any human activity, could be done and accomplished within the time and the space available to do it. When you translate this to the current electoral schedule in the country today, it is obvious why everybody is very hopeful that despite the much orchestrated time constraints, it is still very possible for the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to conduct free and fair elections on schedule in 2011. We may have our fears and our reservations on a number of other things. This does not stop a definite and certain assurance that this will be done. In effect, there is really no need for any anxiety in the nation.

What one is saying is that the existing chord of peace and stability in the nation ought to be strengthened by all and sundry.

The time has come to re-emphasise that there are clear signals that this democracy is working as intended.  What are the signals? For the first time in the history of this country, the principle of separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary is working as intended by the founding fathers of this country. For the first time in this country, the sitting President is not making any attempts to destroy and liquidate the opposition. For the first time in the history of this country, the nation’s judiciary is not being intimidated by the overwhelming powers of executive incumbency to give a favourable judgment even when  the paramount interests of the ruling party  is being apparently compromised.

For the first time in the history of this country, the legislative leadership is not being summoned to dubious nocturnal consultations with the executive arm so as to impose the will of the executive on the rest of us even when those things are clearly not in our interest. No desperate measures are being taken to effect a subversive change in the leadership structure of any of the two chambers of the national parliament.

Obviously, this is a working democracy and the credit must be given to the statesmanship leadership style of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan which has made such things to be possible. All these are clear indications that the nation is indeed on the threshold of a truly working democracy.

The nation is being steered away from the mentality of a regimented authoritarianism which had more often than not, undermined our developmental potentials. Nigeria is truly on the way forward to a state whereby the true wishes of the people will reign supreme rather than the wishes of a partisan clique. This development is epochal indeed…and is one that requires the support of all well meaning citizens of this country.

Rafat Kadri, Area 3, Block 5, Aso pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State