Why you must consider peace resolutions for 2023 [2] — Our Security, Our Peace by Prof. O.E Bassey

As rightly emphasized in the incipient series, the culture of peace goes beyond the abstract ‘utopia’ that fuels a longing for it. It is hard work, and it is a full-time job. So, in all your aspirations for a peaceful 2023, what will bring it, it is important you know, boils down to what you do now, and do consistently.

Having expounded on the principles you need personally to put into play to ensure that peace is not far-fetched from you as you go through the year, it is imperative to understand that peace is not exclusive, and rather has a lot more to do with your environment than it has to do with you.

So as much as we seek to put into practice the strategies for personal peace in 2023, the environment we live in must also be factored in for there exists no peace for any human in an environment of chaos.

And in a peculiar nation like Nigeria, into a history-making year like 2023 where major elections will be holding, if anyone, indeed, wants to have a peaceful year, then it must commit to playing by the peace rules that give birth to a peaceful society.

And what are these rules everyone must play by to see to it that we create a peaceful atmosphere all through the year with the aim of one, seeing the existing government transit in ease to the incoming government, and see the incoming government hit the ground running under an unchaotic environment, plus seeing that in formal and informal organizations where people work in, peace abound.

Tolerance

The first peace trait to co-existing with people is tolerance. No two persons are the same, same way no two persons think the same way. You have your sentiments, everyone has theirs. Political choices, social choices, religious choices will differ as long as we have different faces that make up for a beautiful community. Going into 2023, a political year, our tolerance would be demanded of us as we would have opinions, choices and events that might not go our way. It is no time to lose your cool, and take everyone as enemies, such that you go violent — verbally or physically with them — it is time to understand that we are different, and so would our choices be. Plus, if at all there is any chance of change from people, then it will come from a place of peace which tolerance gives room to.

 Love

The only reason we would survive 2023 as a nation strong in unity that brings peace is if we all task ourselves to live in love with our neighbours, and most importantly, to our nation.

I find a lot of detachment and resentment from Nigerians towards Nigeria as a result of the many ills that have characterized the country in recent time, making life insufferable for them. This has built a pent-up anger within a lot of Nigerians, such that, at any slight chance to let out the bile in them for the country, they are ready to go full throttle to take the country by the jugular.

Not only that, the love for ourselves have also died, or would I say dwindled drastically that ‘insignificant’ differences such as religion and ethnicity now seem to divide us rather than unite us to detriment of what makes us ‘Nigerians’ and ‘Nigeria’.

If we are to enjoy and not endure 2023 as a people, as a nation, and as an organization, aside from loving ourselves personally, we need to transmute that same love to that man on the street, the person on the other desk, and by and large, ‘our’ country called Nigeria — emphasis on ‘our’.

 Leadership Communication

Sometimes, we tend to behave the way we behave because we lose sight of how influential we are to ourselves. We tend to forget that we are leaders in our rights, and not necessarily till we have a title to our names.

In 2023, if we are to experience the peace that births development for the country, then it behooves on everyone to see themselves as leaders whose actions and inactions have an impact on not only the present but the future, friends and enemies, adults and children; we need to understand the world does not start and end with us, and what makes for a good leader are more of the legacies we leave behind in deeds and in words.

And in cognizance of the politicking that will go down this year and how much we need to maintain peace in the society pre and post elections, the strand of Non-Violent Communication in how we communicate as leaders becomes once again imperative.

I have written quite a lot about the need to embrace NVC during the electioneering period, and yet again, will call for the its embrace in our resolve to seeing peace on a collective front in the country.

Observe without judging; don’t shut up your feelings, rather express them; take responsibility for how you feel, don’t blame it on anyone; and always remember to request and don’t demand, and it shall be a peaceful year for you and all compatriots

Truth

History is replete with how misinformation and disinformation have ruined society and organizations. In a year where political interests will run high, these lies will be told barefaced, skillfully and manipulatively. There is a need to have everyone on guard to filter information they get and ensure that the chaff gets separated from the wheat.

Aside from being filters of information, it is also expected that we be the harbinger of truthful information at all times. We crack down on the false ones, and promote the truthful ones in every quarter we find ourselves so as to ensure that people are not misled towards making a choice that will come back to hunt them as lies never birth positives, only negatives.

In addition, as much as human beings want to know the truth, only a few can handle the truth. Truths will come in their droves this year in our respective circles, and you must understand that you are responsible for the way you react to them. Sometimes, we don’t control what comes, but we can definitely control how we react.

Justice

There is no quicker way to asunder a group of people be it in a community, nation or organization, other than the path of injustice. The moment you reward Jo with ‘A’ and you give ‘B’ to Jane with the two individuals having recorded the same results, it is a self-destruct act that creates discord where there should be found none.

The best way to get the best from a group is to have them united. The path to unity is the path of peace, and the path of peace demands fairness. What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.

If you can’t accept what you give to others, it is a clear indication not to even think of it.  This will guide how ‘just’ you are as you glide through the year.

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalms 34:12-14

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 a professor in Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution, a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently the Director of ICOF Institute of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

Prof. Bassey 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.

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

To his many humanitarian acts, he currently spearheads a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders” 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