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!
Connect. Network.Build!
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