Need for peace, tolerance in Nigeria

It is on record that the quest of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria for converts and subsequent expansion created various forms of internal problems for some communities with the emergence of different sects, which resulted in the killing and maiming of innocent souls. Apart from the tensions created by conversions among families, many communities used […]

It is on record that the quest of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria for converts and subsequent expansion created various forms of internal problems for some communities with the emergence of different sects, which resulted in the killing and maiming of innocent souls. Apart from the tensions created by conversions among families, many communities used these conversions to assert their hegemonic attitude over many people.

For peace and tolerance to reign supreme the level of abject poverty as well as ignorance need to be adequately addressed. Writing on the level of poverty in Nigeria, Charity Adarigho Oriakpo in one of her books wrote thus “Many Nigerians are today living a most difficult life with basic amenities such as food, water, electricity, and security almost totally absent”. According to her, Nigeria ranks among the most resource-endowed countries in the World. Despite its enormous resources, Nigeria ranks among the 20 poorest nations of the world ( UNDP, 2006). In addition to this, Dr. Magnus Kpakol, National Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) revealed that seventy-four (74) million Nigerians are poor. According to him, the figure, which was at December 2008 dropped by one million from the 75 million in 2007. He disclosed this in a paper titled “NAPEP Programmes as Enabler for Rapid Economic Development in the South-South Region” presented at the South-South Summit in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Refer to the Nigerian Observer of April 28, 2009 p.5.

Finally, I think and believe that the real danger that lurks behind democratisation process in Nigeria remains the sustained use of language as instruments of exclusion as well as tribalism, favouritism, nepotism, marginalisation, godfatherism, godmotherism, open abuse of policies, victimisation, and the use of ‘special boys’ who at the end we can no longer control and things will continue to fall apart and the centre will no longer hold.

Sanusi A. Ladan, No 6 Dikko Close Dutsinma, Katsina State.