Why Xtian, Muslim Jos youths should climb the ‘peace tree’
The tree analogy Once we identify the different parts we will have a more comprehensive grasp of the situation and should be able to proffer both realizable and sustainable solutions. The Roots: This part of the conflict needs digging to be understood. It is buried deep underground. The roots of the Jos Conflict are […]
The tree analogy
Once we identify the different parts we will have a more comprehensive grasp of the situation and should be able to proffer both realizable and sustainable solutions.
The Roots: This part of the conflict needs digging to be understood. It is buried deep underground. The roots of the Jos Conflict are historic, economic and political. Most analyses of the situation have been limited because of what is called the ‘one factor fallacy’ where analysts use a single factor to explain the situation. This explains the popular trend of people arguing whether the conflict is political, religious, ethnic or economic. The ‘one factor fallacy’ inhibits understanding of the situation and hampers the possibility of a lasting solution.
The Stem: The stem or the trunk is clearly seen because it is right before our eyes. We understand that the Jos conflict is fought across ethno-religious boundaries. This is where most analyses on the conflicts start. Unfortunately, understanding the situation from the stem does not guarantee the kind of understanding that will birth practical solutions.
The Branches: The branches of the Jos crisis are legion and they intertwine like those of any tree, confusing onlookers and leaving authorities bewildered. These are the dimensions the conflict has assumed: ethnic, religious, political, psychological, economic, settler/indigene etc. Many analyses and recommendations start and end with the branches.
The Leaves (and the flowers and fruits): These are the triggers and effects of the crisis. The triggers can be a lady trying to pass around a group of worshippers, a man trying to rebuild a demolished house or one religious group wanting to pray in an area dominated by the other religious group. The effects are deaths, injuries, displacements, destruction, hate, mutual suspicion, general sense of fear and insecurity. Attempting to understand a conflict from its leaves is like trying to tell the details of a book by looking at its cover. As infantile as this seems, it describes aptly the attitude of many to the Jos Conflict. Even though the cover of a book may give an idea of the content, only reading through the pages can give an informed perspective.
Some misperceptions about the situation
Doctors admit that good prescriptions are consequent to an articulate diagnosis. We are like doctors, in a social sense. To prescribe medication for an ailing society, we need a good diagnosis. This is why unhealthy perceptions about the Jos conflict must be cleared. Some of the misperceptions include:
Using the terms Jos Conflict and Jos Crisis interchangeably. Jos conflict and the Jos crisis are two distinct phenomena even though they are locked in a cause-effect embrace. While the Jos conflict is longstanding and has a history spanning about a century, the Jos crisis is a recent development that can be traced to 2001. Even though there were earlier manifestations of violence in 1994 and 1998, the mayhem begun in September 2001 remains the most pervasive. The Jos conflict entails the roots of the situation while the crisis is the violent and destructive dimension it has assumed over the years. Sadly, because of this misperception, many solutions are bent on curbing the crisis while the conflict endures.
Imagining the government can solve the problem alone. There is a limit to what the government can do. While it can use its agencies to enforce order and repress violence, it cannot heal broken hearts and rebuild mutual trust. It should, however, take measures to create conducive environment for these to thrive.
Equating Order with Peace. Order and peace are two different variables. While order can be described as the absence of violence and killings, peace is essentially a situation where there is freedom, justice, equity, and development. Factors that may cause divisiveness and strife are managed. It is important that we do not continue to mistake order enforced with rifles and armoured tanks for peace. While order may be enforced, peace can only be painstakingly attained. Order should be a transition point to sustainable peace, not an end in itself.
Thinking the Solution can only come from ‘us’. Whatever we may think, a lasting solution cannot come from one side. The two conflicting groups must work together. Each must make concessions if sustainable peace is to be attained. A lasting solution has to be collaborative.
The ‘Right and the Wrong’ notion: ‘we’ are ‘right’ and ‘they’ are ‘wrong’. The right and wrong notion is what started the conflict in the first place. This same thinking cannot end it, it will only aggravate it. If we must find practical solutions, the right or wrong notion must be replaced by a more accommodating worldview that will problematize the underlying issues instead of casting blame.
The winner or loser notion. In a violent conflict both sides are losers. If you look at the series of attacks and counter attacks that have characterised the Jos crisis you will come to one conclusion: both sides have lost tremendously in both human and non-human terms.
Eradicating the conflict tree in jos and environs
The folly of most peace efforts in Nigeria is that they are carried out with total disregard to the fact that you cannot kill a tree by plucking off its leaves. Even when you cut down the stem, with time it will regenerate! This does not mean the leaves should be left to thrive. It is necessary to set up measures that will check violence and its adverse effects but we must not stop there: we must get to the ROOTS. The single solution for killing a tree and making sure it stays dead is to destroy the ROOTS.
Immediate Measures: Directed at the Leaves, flowers and fruits
These measures are to be taken IMMEDIATELY based on present security challenges.
A foolproof civilian early warning signal mechanism: We urgently need a functional network that will communicate early warning signals from specific locations for proactive security actions to be taken before lives and property are destroyed. This is VERY important.
A consistent communication line between the civilian early warning signal mechanism and heads of security operatives.
Cordon and search of suspected areas where small and light weapons and ammunitions are lodged by belligerent elements.
Strict checking of vehicular movements to detect and check the proliferation and movements of weapons and explosives.
Metal detectors for security agents stationed at public places like offices, religious centres and the like.
Modification of peace operation mandates to meet present challenges.
Timely apprehension of aggressors or potential aggressors by security agents.
Arresting and prosecuting belligerents caught in the act of aggression.
Accommodating displaced persons and helping those that have suffered losses to recuperate.
Intermediate Measures: Directed at the Branches and the Stem
These measures are intermediaries between the short term and long term:
Revisiting the findings and recommendations of the panels of enquiry and implementing helpful measures.
Disabusing minds from crisis-prone attitudes through mass media campaigns and other innovative and non-traditional methods. Christian and Muslim youths must work collaboratively during the campaigns.
Reorienting people on civil and non-violent means of resolving disputes through massive peace education.
Remote Measures/ Long term: Directed at the Roots
These measures will take effect in the long term, they include:
Planting and nurturing mutual trust and understanding
Clarifying ambiguities surrounding the issue of citizenship and indigeneship (all over the country)
Bettering the socio-economic lot of the people
Entrenching literacy and combating ignorance, using all the weapons in our arsenal because these are the most destructive of traits.
Letting freedom, equity and prosperity reign.