Violence today...and the future

Let’s not delude ourselves by thinking violence in Nigeria in just “boko haram in the north”. This “culture” of violence is being cultivated silently in our midst – breeding an even bloodier future looming.

Nearly everywhere around us, aggressive (vocal) confrontations and a desire to hurt or eliminate the other person continues to be the normal recourse in ever-present incidents of conflict – between siblings, spouses and “friends”. Vices like secret cultism – a machination for the sole purpose of perpetuating violence – still thrives within and outside our secondary and tertiary educational institutions.

What we are witnessing today in the form of boko haram and other expressions of violence, is the consequence of the neglect of past decades. This trend does not look likely to end because our children and siblings indulge in violent enterprise daily. Across the country, in a variety of circumstances and for a variety of purposes, they are indoctrinated, coerced and even motivated to indulge in violence. A more insecure future beckons if we do not take collective action, and urgently.

Since we have refused to mend our ways so as to experience the peace we all crave, we should at least give our children (whom we claim to love so much) a fighting chance of having peace by teaching them that it will take expressions of kindness in the face of anger, love where revenge would feel better by every one of them, every time, to replace the existing culture of violence with a peaceful one.

You have a Right to Peace, but…

One of your fundamental rights as humans and as Nigerians is Peace. That is why the theme of this Year’s (2014) International Day of Peace is “The Right of Peoples to Peace”.

Unfortunately, this peace has somewhat eluded us. Daily, in contemporary times, we have lived in fear and panic due to several tragic events that we have heard and even witnessed. From religious killings, abductions, political violence and now terrorism, there has been insecurity and unrest at various times in the last couple of years.

While it is the responsibility of the government of the day to ensure the security of its people, the people also have a responsibility to support the government's efforts. As we lament and complain about the prevalence of violence, it is pertinent to remember that the kidnappers, the political thugs and assassins, the armed robbers, the religious extremists and suicide-bombers come from amongst us! The people perpetuating violence are not aliens – they are people's children, family or friends.

   The onus is on you, reading this, to work against the prevalence of violence by refusing to indulge in any act of violence,  by dissuading and discouraging others from indulging in violence and, most importantly, by teaching your children – and indeed every child – to be peace-loving and nonviolent.

As they grow, children and youths must be reminded to always embrace peace and reject violence in resolving their daily conflicts. This will reduce their chances of indulging in violent enterprise, now or in the future. Every adult has this responsibility in words and action, if the culture of violence must be eliminated.

You do not only have a right to peace; you also have the right to ENCOURAGE and SUSTAIN PEACE.