Finding Peace amid hardship (I) — Our Security, Our Peace By Prof. O.E Bassey

With the present economic realities, almost every Nigerian is walking down the road an angry man. The hardship, caused by some economic reforms undertaken by the President Bola Tinubu-led  administration, has been telling on the masses with countless reports of hunger pervasive in the land.

Just yesterday, reports emerged of a looting that took place at some warehouse in Abuja. Desperate and hungry Nigerians were said to have stormed the warehouse and carted away some food items in what is a patent demonstration of the deep hunger that gives rise to desperation driving people into crimes such as this.

The last time we heard of such looting taking place was back in 2020 when the Corona Virus hit the world, and everyone had to stay home with only a few able to make money from the confines of their home. The confinement brought about unbearable hardship and hunger in the land that people started resorting to violence, theft and looting to stuff their stomach with or survival.

This is to say that truly hunger is a viable breeding ground for anger. And where anger is in place, unchecked and unmanaged, the result is never palatable. This is why by all means, the government and all relevant stakeholders need to step in to stem the potential disaster that could explode in the country if economy keep sliding.

The Government’s role to Finding Peace amid hardship

Palliative

While there are ongoing and intense work to get the economy back to bearable and even thriving state, the people bearing the hard times must not be neglected. After all, the point of working to revive the economy is to ensure that people get to live in bliss and ease. When these people die as a result of hunger, to what end is the reform? This is why the government must do better than it is currently doing in rolling out palliatives consistently to the people. What is actually ongoing in terms of disbursement of palliatives has been reported to be unfelt by most Nigerians in most part of the country. This does not help in assuaging the difficulties being experienced by the citizenry, as such, the government needs to step up massively to connect helpful palliatives to the people, as such efforts would go a long way to impressing on the people that their government cares and empathize with them as we all join hands to rebuild our country.

Communication

During times like this, keeping people in the dark does not help issues. This is the time where communication must be consistent, deliberate and open in a bid to foster trust between the led and the leaders. When people are communicated to using the available channels — both indigenous and sophisticated —they are able to keep track with the progress being made and are aware that efforts are underway to change the tide for the better.

It must also be emphasised that orientation and education are integral tools needed for communication during peculiar times like this. For a highly technical sector like the economy, not every Nigerian understand how it works, so when communicating, ensuring that people understand in the most basic manner possible the actions being taken and the result being expected is equally important.

Lastly, listening — a vital communication tool — is yet needed to ensure the people feel belonged, seen and heard. The government must be deliberate and constant in offering their ears to the public and receiving feedbacks from them as that could help in decision making that could be beneficial to the larger public. Rather than taking decisions that do not resonate with the reality of the common man on the streets.

Security

At times like this, security is very paramount as some unscrupulous individuals might view this vulnerable moment in the history of the nation to feed their crime appetite with the hope that they will get away with their spoils. Our security apparatus must be at alert during this period to secure the limited resources left in the country against ill-intentioned people who are looking to cause chaos and strike for their selfish reasons.

Psalm 119:165

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Meanwhile, I am delighted to inform you that come October, 1, 2024, we at NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute famous for Peace Leadership will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary.

To this end is our campaign to spread the education of peace leadership to both the old as young, women and children in various places from corporate organisations, to political organizations, worship centers, educational institutions, markets and communities.

It is in our belief that the more educated the people are in respect to peace leadership, the more peaceful our country will become.

So this is a call-to-action, to hop on our Peace campaign train, to arm yourself, your friends, your colleagues, your employees, your congregation with contemporary peace leadership knowledge that makes for a happier and more fulfilled life, personally and collectively.

Kindly call or send a message on Whatsapp to +2347065828892, to be a beneficiary of this.

Prof. Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Leadership, 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 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, Ofonime 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 famous for Peace Leadership.

Presently, he is spearheading a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders”, a campaign that is billed to run from 2022-2030 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For leadership, conflict, peace and security consultations and trainings, reach him via:

Facebook: Dr. O.E Bassey

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WhatsApp: +2347065828892

Mail: emmanuelbassey@gmail.com