.......................................
............
............
Need website? get 40% discount darr-concepts creative studios contact us:- admin@darrconcepts.com www.darrconcepts.com 443-904-1239 |
Do you want to
contribute
ARTICLES to African
Examiner? We have
space for You. Click
HERE to Contact
contribute
ARTICLES to African
Examiner? We have
space for You. Click
HERE to Contact
*The Electoral
Fraudsters
*The Nigeria State
Looters
*Mess Made in Kenya
*Dishonourable
honourable
*African Beauty in
Ireland
*The birthday Lady
*HUASA Fashion
*Senegalese Night
*Golden Eaglets
Fraudsters
*The Nigeria State
Looters
*Mess Made in Kenya
*Dishonourable
honourable
*African Beauty in
Ireland
*The birthday Lady
*HUASA Fashion
*Senegalese Night
*Golden Eaglets
| www.grandcaregiver.com e-mail:-roslync @grandcaregiver.com 410-644-4994 |
| MAKE BIG BUCKS IN HOME CARE BUSINESS |
African Daily
Newspapers
THE GUARDIAN
THE STAR
THE SUB SAHARA
THE PUNCH
NIGERIA TRIBUNE
TIMES OF ZAMBIA
THE SUN
DAILY GRAPHICS
CAPE TIMES
THISDAY
MAIL & GUARDIAN
VANGUARD
DAILY INDEPENDENT
TELL
ACCRA MAIL
THE NEWS
Newspapers
THE GUARDIAN
THE STAR
THE SUB SAHARA
THE PUNCH
NIGERIA TRIBUNE
TIMES OF ZAMBIA
THE SUN
DAILY GRAPHICS
CAPE TIMES
THISDAY
MAIL & GUARDIAN
VANGUARD
DAILY INDEPENDENT
TELL
ACCRA MAIL
THE NEWS
| African-Examiner Photo Gallery |
| Visit African Examiner... Blog | Sports | Guest Book | Write 4 Us |
Article Tools |
| Copyrights 2007 All Rights Reserved African Examiner Online (www.africanexaminer.com.) P. O. Box 11582 Baltimore, MD, 21229, USA |
| More on African Examiner |
Search Previous stories on
African Examiner
African Examiner
+ United Nations
+ UNESCO
+ World Bank
+ African Union
+ ECOWAS
+ EU
+ Freedom House
+ Cttee to protect Journalist
+ Transparency International
+ UNESCO
+ World Bank
+ African Union
+ ECOWAS
+ EU
+ Freedom House
+ Cttee to protect Journalist
+ Transparency International
| Oludare Sunday Fase Editor in Chief African Examiner.com editor@africanexaminer.com 443-904-1239 |
+ Sports
+ Archives
+ Site Maps
+ Blog
+ Guest Book
+ Write 4 Us
+ News Tip
+ Archives
+ Site Maps
+ Blog
+ Guest Book
+ Write 4 Us
+ News Tip
+ NIDO (AGM)
+ Women conference
+ Bankole in Toronto
+ The Electoral Fraudsters
+ The Nigeria
+ StateLooters
+ Mess Made in Kenya
+ Dishonourable
+ African Beauty in Ireland
+ The birthday Lady
+ HUASA Fashion
+ Senegalese Night
+ Golden Eaglets
+ Women conference
+ Bankole in Toronto
+ The Electoral Fraudsters
+ The Nigeria
+ StateLooters
+ Mess Made in Kenya
+ Dishonourable
+ African Beauty in Ireland
+ The birthday Lady
+ HUASA Fashion
+ Senegalese Night
+ Golden Eaglets
| African Examiner Photo Gallery |
| The African Examiner.com |
| International organisations |
Foreign Media
| Journalism Network |
| To advertise call 443-904-1239 or send mail to editor@africanexaminer.com |
| News Tip? send it to editor@africanexaminer.com |
Use google search engine to search the net
.........................................................................................................................................
Jos crisis: Genocide or failure of leadership
The spate of sectarian violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties in
succession in Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria in the first quarter of this year 2010 calls for
deeper perspective on the motivating factors and drivers of this carnage act.
Generally, large number of Nigerians of diverse religious and sectarian convictions live
together in peace and harmony, in brotherly co-existence as one would expect in any
civilised nation of the world, but happenings in the middle belt state of Nigeria, Jos in
recent times have raised concerns and curiosity about whether there are centripetal or
centrifugal forces that moderates the violent activities or it is simply a fluid state of
ethno-religious disharmony or a crusade of cleansing that should not be looked at with
a casual glance, but rather with the same condemnation that the world has given other
similar historical crusades around the world. This is very important given the perennial
nature of this violence and the persistence of it in rapid succession this year. The
world cannot afford another genocide in the mould of Darfur, Rwanda or Bosnia.
If this is simply ethnoreligious divergence of ideas or belief, is there an ideology driving
this like the crusade of terrorism that is maintaining the global war on terror or is it just
a dastardly act of political manipulation of poor and imporverished people of Nigeria in
that part of the nation for selfish end? Is it a state of affair that is raising questions
about our divergence and heterogenous federalism or merely a fight for ethnic
domination by one group over another? Can we simply say that it is a jostle for control
of economic and social resources in that area, being an agrarian part of the country,
or is it a fight over control of land resources from one ethnic group over the other?
These are perspective questions that needs pointed answers. The issues here mirror
the genesis of the civil unrest that led to the war in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Democratic
republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia. It is within our collective memories the
consequences of these scenarios and the psychological impact of that on the world at
large with the images of carnage and destruction that it bequeathed to us. We are
seeing similar images now emanating from Nigeria, from recent events in the Jos area
of Nigeria where defenceless children and nursing mothers were burnt beyond
recognition, limbs and arm were maimed and bodies of people were inflicted with deep
matchete wounds in there sleep and homes and properties were burnt down.
More questions than answer are being raised about what is the driving force behind
this spate of violence, particularly given the timing and happenings in the political
firmament in the country. Is this a leadership failure on the part of those we have
elected to lead us, those we have voted to unite us or is it a demonstration on
irresponsible attitude to the business of state security and governace? Neslon
Mandela once said something about leadership " It is better to lead from behind and to
put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You
take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership",
but if what is happening in Jos is such that our leaders are sending innocent men and
women in arms way, playing them one against the other for political advantage, then it
begs the question, what kind of leaders do we have in Nigeria? Leaders according to
Mandela leads others into during the time of danger and challenges and take the back
side during the time of peace and plenty, but if our so called leaders are promoting
violence with a view to achieve political or religious domination then our trouble has
just begun, our nationhood has just been bastardised and our brotherliness, equality
and freedom have just been denigrated. We do not deserve such leadership!
History told us that leadership that promote sectarian violence, ethnic cleansing
agenda, xenophobic sentiments and racial hatred are retained in the ignoble hall of
fame and are usually paraded in the corridors of court of crime against humanity. Do
we have such leaders in Nigeria who should be taking their seats under
cross-examination in the United Nation Court of Human Right? Or do we have leaders
who will act like Nelson Mandela, who despite decades of incarceration and fight on the
side of justice and equality for all races stated that "During my lifetime I have dedicated
myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination,
and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic
and free society in which all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities.
It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But if needs be, it is an ideal
for which I am prepared to die. No one is born hating another person because of the
color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if
they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the
human heart than its opposite" Are our leaders in Nigeria sending our children and
women to die vainly and uneccessarily by formenting and fanning the embers of hatred
amongst communities?
Do we have leaders in Nigeria who aspire to these ideals of Humanity and sacred
selflessness? Have we bred leaders who are pre-occupied with their own political and
personal ambition so much as to sacrifice the lives of others and drive them to violence
and carnage to meet that end?
Quoting the sage again "I always remember the axiom: a leader...is like a shepherd. He
stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others
follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind". Our country,
Nigeria is blessed with people with good heads and kind hearts who are selfless
enough to delay their own gratification until they have realised that every one who
follows them have settled in peace, abundance and unity and would rise above
primitive sentiments in the direction and operation of nationhood. The killing of
innocent men, women and children and wanton destruction of lives and properties as it
happened in Jos in recent times under the watch of our leaders in modern day Nigeria
is an inexcuseable and unjustifiable incident and failure of leadership. In parts of the
world where lives of human means so much and weigh so much, there is always a
public demonstration of remorse and in some situations admittance of failure and
across the board, people take personal and spiritual responsibility for such loss of
lives. It is not yet the case in Nigeria and these further underlies how far away we are
from the attainment of accountability in governance and public life.
Jos Crisis and the underlying factors driving the violence needs to be decapitated for
the good of mankind and humanity, no civilised nation in modern times can harbour
such wound of hatred for any lenght of time unattended. Inattention to the factors
behind it will eat away our price of nationhood and cause cohesive gangrene that may
lead to permanent necrosis of our efforts at gaining socio-political relevance in the
modern world. Our leaders should work towards freeing our nation of such debilitating
cancer, freedom from political oppression, freedom from shackles of ethno-religious
violence, freedom from economic sabotage, freedom from political insensitivity and
freedom from primitive utilisation of divergent views and belief to achieve political
capita or advantage..."For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in
a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" Enough is Enough!
Dr Olayiwola Ajileye
Media and Publicity Coordinator, Champions for Nigeria (CFN)
www.championsfornigeria.org
The spate of sectarian violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties in
succession in Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria in the first quarter of this year 2010 calls for
deeper perspective on the motivating factors and drivers of this carnage act.
Generally, large number of Nigerians of diverse religious and sectarian convictions live
together in peace and harmony, in brotherly co-existence as one would expect in any
civilised nation of the world, but happenings in the middle belt state of Nigeria, Jos in
recent times have raised concerns and curiosity about whether there are centripetal or
centrifugal forces that moderates the violent activities or it is simply a fluid state of
ethno-religious disharmony or a crusade of cleansing that should not be looked at with
a casual glance, but rather with the same condemnation that the world has given other
similar historical crusades around the world. This is very important given the perennial
nature of this violence and the persistence of it in rapid succession this year. The
world cannot afford another genocide in the mould of Darfur, Rwanda or Bosnia.
If this is simply ethnoreligious divergence of ideas or belief, is there an ideology driving
this like the crusade of terrorism that is maintaining the global war on terror or is it just
a dastardly act of political manipulation of poor and imporverished people of Nigeria in
that part of the nation for selfish end? Is it a state of affair that is raising questions
about our divergence and heterogenous federalism or merely a fight for ethnic
domination by one group over another? Can we simply say that it is a jostle for control
of economic and social resources in that area, being an agrarian part of the country,
or is it a fight over control of land resources from one ethnic group over the other?
These are perspective questions that needs pointed answers. The issues here mirror
the genesis of the civil unrest that led to the war in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Democratic
republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia. It is within our collective memories the
consequences of these scenarios and the psychological impact of that on the world at
large with the images of carnage and destruction that it bequeathed to us. We are
seeing similar images now emanating from Nigeria, from recent events in the Jos area
of Nigeria where defenceless children and nursing mothers were burnt beyond
recognition, limbs and arm were maimed and bodies of people were inflicted with deep
matchete wounds in there sleep and homes and properties were burnt down.
More questions than answer are being raised about what is the driving force behind
this spate of violence, particularly given the timing and happenings in the political
firmament in the country. Is this a leadership failure on the part of those we have
elected to lead us, those we have voted to unite us or is it a demonstration on
irresponsible attitude to the business of state security and governace? Neslon
Mandela once said something about leadership " It is better to lead from behind and to
put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You
take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership",
but if what is happening in Jos is such that our leaders are sending innocent men and
women in arms way, playing them one against the other for political advantage, then it
begs the question, what kind of leaders do we have in Nigeria? Leaders according to
Mandela leads others into during the time of danger and challenges and take the back
side during the time of peace and plenty, but if our so called leaders are promoting
violence with a view to achieve political or religious domination then our trouble has
just begun, our nationhood has just been bastardised and our brotherliness, equality
and freedom have just been denigrated. We do not deserve such leadership!
History told us that leadership that promote sectarian violence, ethnic cleansing
agenda, xenophobic sentiments and racial hatred are retained in the ignoble hall of
fame and are usually paraded in the corridors of court of crime against humanity. Do
we have such leaders in Nigeria who should be taking their seats under
cross-examination in the United Nation Court of Human Right? Or do we have leaders
who will act like Nelson Mandela, who despite decades of incarceration and fight on the
side of justice and equality for all races stated that "During my lifetime I have dedicated
myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination,
and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic
and free society in which all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities.
It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But if needs be, it is an ideal
for which I am prepared to die. No one is born hating another person because of the
color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if
they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the
human heart than its opposite" Are our leaders in Nigeria sending our children and
women to die vainly and uneccessarily by formenting and fanning the embers of hatred
amongst communities?
Do we have leaders in Nigeria who aspire to these ideals of Humanity and sacred
selflessness? Have we bred leaders who are pre-occupied with their own political and
personal ambition so much as to sacrifice the lives of others and drive them to violence
and carnage to meet that end?
Quoting the sage again "I always remember the axiom: a leader...is like a shepherd. He
stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others
follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind". Our country,
Nigeria is blessed with people with good heads and kind hearts who are selfless
enough to delay their own gratification until they have realised that every one who
follows them have settled in peace, abundance and unity and would rise above
primitive sentiments in the direction and operation of nationhood. The killing of
innocent men, women and children and wanton destruction of lives and properties as it
happened in Jos in recent times under the watch of our leaders in modern day Nigeria
is an inexcuseable and unjustifiable incident and failure of leadership. In parts of the
world where lives of human means so much and weigh so much, there is always a
public demonstration of remorse and in some situations admittance of failure and
across the board, people take personal and spiritual responsibility for such loss of
lives. It is not yet the case in Nigeria and these further underlies how far away we are
from the attainment of accountability in governance and public life.
Jos Crisis and the underlying factors driving the violence needs to be decapitated for
the good of mankind and humanity, no civilised nation in modern times can harbour
such wound of hatred for any lenght of time unattended. Inattention to the factors
behind it will eat away our price of nationhood and cause cohesive gangrene that may
lead to permanent necrosis of our efforts at gaining socio-political relevance in the
modern world. Our leaders should work towards freeing our nation of such debilitating
cancer, freedom from political oppression, freedom from shackles of ethno-religious
violence, freedom from economic sabotage, freedom from political insensitivity and
freedom from primitive utilisation of divergent views and belief to achieve political
capita or advantage..."For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in
a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" Enough is Enough!
Dr Olayiwola Ajileye
Media and Publicity Coordinator, Champions for Nigeria (CFN)
www.championsfornigeria.org