Peacebuilding, Nation building: Panacea for a united Nigeria — Our Security, Our Peace By  Prof. O E Bassey 

The power of independence is the result of freedom. The result of freedom is a hybrid of a united force. No warring parties will claim to be in taste of what freedom looks like from its tongue smacking of vile, vindictiveness and violence.

Nigeria continues its celebration of her 63rd Independence Day having broken free from the shackles of our colonial masters six decades ago. But as been for some decades now, periods like this bring more sobriety than vivacity, brings more pensiveness than gladness, but above all, another window to resound and consolidate on our progress towards a prouder nation.

Together, we need to fight for the country we want as much as we did fought for the Independence that brought us here. It’s akin to a car, the purchase of it is not a guarantee of continued maximum deliverables. If the car is not maintained consistently and qualitatively, it deteriorates till it becomes of no use. We need to collaborate and advance all efforts at nation building. This goes beyond the leaders as each and everyone must be seen contributing their quota to the country as she marches forward under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

One way you could go about this is having the interest of the country at the forefront of all your dealings. For every corrupt practice you engage in, know that Nigeria suffers thrice as much — and this does not mean Nigeria as an entity: your brothers, your sisters, your parents, one way or the other, sooner rather than later, get to bear the brunt of your unbecoming action. It comes in either distrust of the system, lack of investors, lack of customers, as every action is connected as a result to a string of people — good or bad. So it is quite important that as a matter of urgency, we see this window as a reminder of why we need to be upright and honest in our dealings as Nigerians — because truthfully, the country we long for will not come if we don’t change our ways.

The love for Nigeria has apparently gone cold among a large proportion of the country. When love is missing from a relationship, toxicity becomes the order of the day. We need to rekindle our love for our country, Nigeria. The path to building the nation will only come from a place of love without which nothing will survive. Love builds, love nurtures, love protects, love cares: imagine these attitudes from every Nigerian, from the leaders down to the led, the ‘Giant of Africa’ will inevitably rise to its place on the continent.

Our fate, unmistakably, lies in our hands; in other words, where we find ourselves today is the result of the actions we took yesterday. Alas! We cry for change yet embrace dissension, disaffection and discrimination. From ethnicity, to politics, to religion, to sports, to entertainment, almost everywhere you go, the virtues of love and respect are dead and buried. Yet we want to grow, we want to be free, we want to be developed. All these don’t happen by wishful thinking, all these happen by consistent commitment to peacebuilding and nation building on the platform of love. It is only a person who loves themselves would want peace for themselves. It is only a person who loves themselves would seek their growth. It is only who loves themselves would be united. And you know what they say about people who are united: they don’t only go fast, they go far!

This is a call to all Nigerians in the country and in the diaspora, on this occasion of our 63rd Independence, to take inventory of their citizenship as a Nigerian and ask themselves these salient questions:

Do I really have the love of Nigeria in my heart?

Am I ready to commit myself to peacebuilding as an outlet to prove my love for Nigeria?

Am I ready to commit myself to nation building as a outlet to prove my love for Nigeria?

Your answers already tells what the future holds for your country.

Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Professor. 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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WhatsApp: +2347065828892

Mail: EmmanuelBassey@gmail.com