Power Sharing: A Critical Template for Political Peace —Our Security, Our Peace by Dr. O.E Bassey

There will be no need to go deep and wide in evidencing how much of a divide the lack of fairness in political mandates can bring in a heterogeneity. One of the political parties in the country is currently having its work cut out in trying to fix to an inconclusive state thus far the failure to adhere to equal sharing of power among people from different parts of the country.

From inception, the issue of ethnicity in the political set-up of any country has always been sensitive such that when there is a perception of the slightest marginalization by a group, it tends to bring chaos to the land.

This is why it is imperative that as a nation, we don’t abandon equal representation of tribes and also religion in the political pedestal of the country.

As a matter of fact, inherent in nation building efforts is the pursuance of peace and if we indeed claim to be nation builders — from the politician to the man on the street — then we must come together and agree on having a power sharing formula that is all inclusive rather than exclusive.

Corruption, ethnic bigotry and nepotism have since been the fire stoking the anomaly of political exclusion of certain groups in the country to the emptiness of progress that ideally gets to be wrought by such political template.

And it’s so disappointing that yet again with the look of things, we are set to be plunged deeper in the same abyss of relegating fairness in power sharing.

And as a matter of fact, in contrast to the practice being popular at the centre, it has grossly degenerated to the grassroots such that at the local government level, some minority groups tend to be snubbed from political positions in a bid to perpetuate power within a particular group or unit in the community.

This is an issue that is not new to the land, as such, lamenting about it as we have been doing will only see us keep whirl in the rotative circumference of complaints when we could redesign the narrative by taking our fate in our hands to propagate peace in our politics.

First, is calling on all political parties to endeavor to look beyond ‘party politics’ and look more into the potpourri of people they are out to serve, and ensure that there is balance and fairness to all regardless of nuances of background to effect peace. There must be an enabling environment to see people from different tribes and people with different faiths have rotational representation in political positions to deescalate any potential of envy or grievances that could degenerate into chaos and make things fall apart.

Second is a call to lawmakers to realize that it’s high time we made this a substantive law in our electoral act to give rotational power to all groups — ethical ad religious — in the country without leaving any behind to forestall having aggrieved parties agitating for secession on grounds of exclusion. We are at that stage in our politics where we cannot keep pretending that this is not a problem, hence keep managing aggrieved individuals. Their grievances, whether we like it or not, are bound to get to a point where they will distend and become uncontainable, only then would we realize how we have been sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

While that is awaited, democracy is so generous that its de-concentration of power also gives the people the chance to effect the change they want. Hence, my admonition to all to replay what history has been unfolding to us from time past, and seek to bring balance and fairness to the script.

The beauty of being a Nigerian is the beauty of its diversification. We must seek to be our brother’s keeper for that is the true essence of being a Nigerian and we must keep holding ourselves to that expectation, seeing to it that none of our brothers and sisters are deprived of political representation.

If the government is unwilling, due to their hues of sentiments, to bring to bear political will in power sharing, it boils down to us via the franchise we wield to decide the electoral compass of our country via looking at the candidates before us and sticking our neck for where balance and fairness lie to promote peace that brings progress.

2 Samuel 8:15: So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people

Dr. Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution Coach with decades of experience in the practice and promotion of Law Enforcement, Peace and Security through the Nigeria Police and the United Nations.

He is an advocate of Peace Leadership and Child Protection.

He has served and interacted at the top level management of the Nigeria Police as well as internationally as a United Nation’s Monitor/Mentor in Kosovo, Europe.

A professor of Peace Advocacy and Conflict Resolution, Dr. O.E Bassey is a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently the Director of ICOF Institute of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

With his marks well-established in Peace Leadership both in Nigeria and Africa. Currently, he is the President, NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute of Peace Leadership.

Presently, he is spearheading a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders”, a campaign that is billed to run from 2022-2023 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For peace and security tips, consultations and trainings, reach him via:

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