The burden of conscience 3

Part three of this foundational series – The Burden of Conscience – takes a look at violence in Africa as a factor for retrogression and economic subjugation in the continent and one of the key factors that should jar one into action – a weight on one’s conscience as an African, one that I am unable to contain.

One is dazed at the shear extent of violence ravaging Africa; it is just mind boggling to put it very mildly. As I grew up, the most salient things I started hearing about African countries were mostly in relation to wars and conflicts – Burundi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia, etc. Even now, the conflicts and violence show no sign of abating. The preponderance of African nations is battling one form of violence or another. Critically needed resources are being channeled towards waging wars and containing violence. The God-given resources are being exchanged for weapons that are used freely on fellow brethren with reckless abandon. In the midst of it all, the west gains while Africa grows poorer!

In Nigeria, the number of violent deaths being recorded on a daily basis is surpassing that of Syria that is mired in a civil war! Whether it is Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Ombatse cult, ritualists, kidnappers, militants or whatever name you call them, the killings, maiming and destruction of lives and property is being carried to terrifying heights! The human and economic toll on the nation is simply humongous! The trend of killings and counter killings portends grave existential danger to the nation. But the long term consequences of breeding children under these debilitating conditions, with access to education – a vital means of personal and economic freedom - denied might be even more catastrophic, having had their consciences seared with hot iron! Unless something is urgently done, Nigeria will cease to exist sooner or later.

But the situation is not peculiar to Nigeria. From Mali to Egypt; from Sudan to Central African Republic; from Somalia to Egypt the violence is rife. Africa is undoubtedly among the greatest patrons of the west, and more recently some Asian and Middle East countries in terms of light and medium weapons! While diseases, infrastructure decay, poverty and unemployment are escalating by the day, available resources are being exchanged for weapons! Consequently, African countries rank among the poorest and hungry nations of the world. Internal displacement of her citizens is equally among the highest in the world!

Looking at the specter of violence, I ask myself, ‘Are we going to continue this way?’ Whose responsibility is it to stop these mindless destructions? How do we go about resolving these conflicts and building a promising continent where our children and children’s children will like to live?

I conclude that everyone must get involved; I must get involved. The task cannot be left to government alone. Individually and collectively, we need to learn and preach the principles of non-violence as popularized and successfully applied by Mahatma Ghandi. We need to understand that as he says, ‘An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.’ It is time to explore alternative means of dispute resolution!

Let us waive the olive branch to our aggrieved brothers so that we can stop the violence and turn to prosperity. As God showed to mankind, it is a mark of true greatness to initiate reconciliation even when one has been wronged.

It’s time to Teamup!