THE PHONE CALL THAT HEALED NIGERIA

     THE PHONE CALL THAT HEALED NIGERIA

© 2018                     CHIBU NDUBUISI            24/11/2018   WEEK 47

“We live life forward but we understand it backwards”       Jonathan Sacks

Peace be upon you.

On November 16^th 2018, former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, launched his book “MY Transition Hours” to help clarify and bring to the fore the decisions he made while in office and possibly to chart a way forward for those who must learn the antics of politics and how to play the strings that leads to peace.

The profound statement he made and I quote “that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” will forever keep ringing in the minds and hearts of peace lovers all over the world. He lived what he preached, when he made a phone call to President Buhari congratulating him on his electoral victory. President Jonathan was the most abused and vilified President Nigeria has ever had. Yet he kept his cool and is not easily ruffled by negatives. 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in the book launch, spoke about the 4 Phases in the life of democratic politician.

i. Campaign period and possibly election

ii. Assumption to office and popularity starts to wane.

iii. After Office when you lose fair weather friends.

iv. Things begin to align once more for your good.

He used these examples to extol Jonathan who was called a weak man for not staying on to power as he Obasanjo was tempted with the 3^rd term option but understood the hand writing on the wall and quickly caved in.

I have written previously about who a peace building agent is but for this discourse, it is important to refresh our memory on that:  Peace Building Agent are Nation states, International Organizations, Non-governmental organizations, Civil societies, Academia, Religious groups, Communities and Individuals who consistently put efforts towards ensuring that positive peace prevails and their roles are: On the Government level, when integrative policies are made for the populace rather than alienating policies that negate positive peace. On the Academia: when the type of education taught in schools are those that foster peaceful living. On the religious axis: when the teaching that bothers on hate, fundamentalism and extremism are not taught, but teaching that bothers on love and hope are encouraged, on the Individual level, when actions that helps prevent a relapse into crisis is upheld.

A reminder, about the June 12 election of 1993 that was nullified by the regime of General Babangida and the attendant tension that engulfed the country during that period, occasioned by elements who want to cling to power at all cost not minding the agony people will pass though.

The general elections are around the corner; my advice at this point is from the man who admonished all Nigerians that” his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian”. Don’t let anybody lure you into sacrificing your blood for him. 

Tuface Idibia capped it all in his hit track "E Be like Say” when he sang that:

See, all I want to say is that
They don’t really care about us
Because all they want to do is to get in touch with big bucks
Because they think the money gives them the power
But the power is nothing
If your people cannot get quality education
The power is nothing
If your people keep on dying of disease and starvation
The power is nothing
If your people have no peace (no peace)
The power is nothing
If your people cannot live in unity (eh)
See, why do you keep deceiving the people, my brother, my sister
See, why you make all this people to dey fight one another
Only God can judge you now [x4]
Another year has come
And now you want my vote once more
Oh no

I dedicate this one to all of the shady politicians
Wey go promise and fail and make the people live in harsh conditions
I dedicate this one to all of the shady politicians
Why don’t you change your ways
Change your ways now
Make the people live the way they are supposed to live

Peace be with you.