MIGRATION AND INTER-CULTURAL DIALOGUE

MIGRATION AND INTER-CULTURAL DIALOGUE

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

 

Migration is a movement of human beings from one place to the other to find a better life. Some people move from their homesto places where they hope to find jobs, shelter and means of livelihood. Many move from rural areas to cities where there is fertile land, green vegetation, social amenities and industries. There are different types of migration such as internal migration which is a movement within a state, country or continent; external migration which is a movement to a different state, country, or continent; emigration which is leaving one country to move to another; immigration which is moving into a new country; return migration which is moving back to where you came from and seasonal migration which is moving with each season or in response to labour or climate conditions. Migrationalso includes refugees who move to a new country because of a problem in their native home and internally displaced persons who are forced out of their natural and ancestral homes to settle in camps. Some migrants often look for better economic, social and political opportunities away from their native homes. Among the reasons for migration are  racism, ethnic rivalry, terrorism, bad governance and insecurity(https://www.nationalgeographic.org). 

 

Migration is an old phenomenon in human history. The Holy Scriptures have records of migration. From the Old Testament of the Bible, Terah had lived for seventy years with his kindred inthe land of Ur. He was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran,the father of Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:26-28). God called Abram, a Shemite, to leave his homeland and his father's house for a new country. He promised to bless Abram by making of him a great nation, one with a dynasty of kings, and to extend His blessing to all families on earth through Abram (Genesis 12:1-3). When God called Abram, he changed his name to Abraham who founded Judaism before Mosesreceived the Torah from God. Abraham is today known as the father of faith to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Abraham was the uncle of Lot. It is possible that Abraham migrated with him because his father had died in their native home of Ur. 

 

Migration goes with conflicts, which are intra-community and inter-community. The conflict between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot is intra-community conflict. “There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. At that time the Canaanites and the Per'izzites dwelt in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zo'ar; this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomor'rah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley, and Lot journeyed east; thus they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom” (Genesis 13:1-13). Abraham resolved this conflict in a way and manner that he could still plead for the salvation of Sodom because he saw his nephew Lot as a just man for whose sake Sodom could be saved (Genesis 18). The forty years of wandering in the wilderness was marked by inter-community and inter-cultural conflicts which Abraham managed with prudence. 

 

The migration of the Prophet of Islam from Mecca to Medina was marked with conflicts and dialogue. Muhammad (SAW)escaped from Mecca with his companion, Abu Bakre when he learnt of the plot against him. In Islamic context, the Hijra is the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) in 622 CE under the command of Allâh. In this journey, Allâh protected him in mysterious ways among which the spiders made a web at the mouth of the cave Hira where the prophet was hiding. Those who were after his life, because of the spider web, could not imagine thatsomebody could have entered the cave. Living in Medina was easy by the grace of Almighty Allâh who inspired the leaders of Medina to invite the Prophet to resolve the disputes between the clans. This was a form of inter-cultural dialogue given that the Prophet had experienced a different culture in Mecca for the first fifty-two years of his life (570–632 CE). He had seen the positive and negative sides of life as an orphan in his early lifebefore becoming a prominent merchant. This made him an impartial and trustworthy arbiter of disputes at the age of fifty-three when he migrated to Medinah Al Munawara. He had spent thirteen years preaching the message of God in Mecca. With this message, the leaders of Medina believed that their clans would experience peace again since Islam gives peace to those who believe. The Prophet eventually succeeded in building an organized community in Medina. This was achieved through inter-cultural dialogue.

 

In the past, migration was not a serious challenge in Nigeria. Those were the days when migrants were perceived as visitors. They were given free accommodation and feeding. They were never a threat to the host communities. As a child the sight of herds of cows in my village was a delight. Children sang in praises of the cows and the sticks the herders used in directing the cows. There was mutual relationship between the indigenous farmers and the herders who respected the crops in the farm and so avoided grazing in the farms to avoid destroying the crops in the farms. Today, the clash between farmers and herders has become a serious national issue. Many people now think that the kidnappers in the various communities are herdsmen. Inter-cultural dialogue would go a long way to fish out the real criminals who could disguise as herdsmen in the kidnapping saga. This would enable the leaders of the various communities to fish out the illegal migrants in their midst, given the unfortunate porous borders that have made criminals from other countries to continue to kidnap, rape and kill Nigerians. 

 

Migration as a human phenomenon is not evil. What is evil is the abuse of migration and illegal migration.  Many Nigerians today believe that foreigners who illegally migrate to Nigeria are the criminals within. Farmers are now afraid to go to farms and people are afraid to travel. We too should remember that manyNigerians are also illegally migrating to other countries for prostitution and other criminal activities. So many Nigerians have died in the ocean and deserts in the attempt to cross to Europe. The world is becoming chaotic because of the struggle for survival by all means. This illegal migration of people across national borders can be controlled through dialogue among nations. Pan African collaboration can go a long way to resolve these migration challenges. The rising trend in illegal migrationespecially from poorer to richer countries could be controlled by good governance whereby the natural and human resources of each country is fully utilized. In fact, every government should wage war against poverty and disease. May God protect us in our land and wherever we may find ourselves.

 

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) (nirec.ng@gmail.com) 

 

PEACE IS THE FRUIT OF JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

Speech Delivered By His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, The Etsu Nupe, The Chairman of the Niger State Traditional Rulers’ Council And The Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria; At the Opening Ceremony of the Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council(NIREC) on 23rd July, 2019 at Abuja; Which Has As Its Theme: “Justice And Good Governance For Peace”

PROTOCOL

It is with profound gratitude that I accepted to deliver this Speech to this very important Meeting. I feel honoured and privileged to be a Member of this august Council that has distinguished Members from the two major World Religions of Christianity and Islam. There is no doubt that Nigerian Nation is currently looking up to this Council to proffer workable solutions to the myriads of security challenges bedevilling the Country. In these regards, I am happy to note that the Theme of today’s meeting is 

“JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR PEACE”

I would like to start by calling on all of us to keep in mind that the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian people have high expectations on the Council’s abilities to douse the religious and ethnic tensions that are pervading the country. In addition, the Council is expected to assist in containing criminal activities including but not limited to insurgency, militancy, banditry, kidnappings and farmers/herders conflicts. The Nigerian people see NIREC as the “Religious Conscience of Nigeria” because of its calibre of Membership consisting of Senior Nigerian Muslims and Christians representing an estimated 90% of the Nigerian population. Therefore, the quantum of unity and harmony exhibited by this Council shall certainly translate into peace and security, with attendant progress and prosperity.

We, and indeed all Nigerians, should persist in prayers and work hard for the Almighty God to grant us peace and security. In Islam, Allah (SWT) told us in the Glorious Qur’an that “Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of affairs) themselves” (Qur’an 13:11). I also understand that God states in the Holy Bible that, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”. (James 2:17).

Distinguished Members of NIREC, the Theme of today’s meeting, “Justice and Good Governance for Peace”, could not have come at a better time. Justiceleads to good governance and conversely good governance leads to justice; and both leads to peace and security, which are most needed in Nigeria today. Kindly permit me to start by pointing out that in Islam, a Leader is required to deliver good governance by leading with justice that must be done and must be seen to have been done. This is the only way peace can be attained. Allah (SWT) decreed that in delivering justice, a Leader must treat all people equally irrespective of their religious beliefs, their status in the society or their relationship with Leader. Allah (SWT) says,

“O you who believe! Be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah’s sake, though it may be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low (heart) desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do”. (Glorious Qur’an 4:135)

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW) said,

“The just shall be on the brightly-lighted first-rows in front of Allah (on the Day of Judgement). Those are the ones who are just in their dealings with their families and were just in running that which was entrusted to them as Leaders”. (Reported Muslim).

There is no better route to the attainment of peace and security and attendant progress and prosperity, than through justice and good governance. Injustice breads all sorts of negative reactions that may culminate into violence and even fatal crisis leading to colossal loses of lives and properties. Over 200 years ago, in ensuring the stability and progress of the new Sokoto Caliphate, its founder, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, strongly admonished his followers that, whosoever is bestowed with leadership must rule with justice, fairness and equity. The Sheikh said,

“One of the swiftest ways of destroying a Nation is to give preference to one particular tribe over another; or to show favour to one particular group of people over another; and to draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near…

Other destructive practices to sovereignty are arrogance and conceit, which take away virtue and bring in the seclusion of the Leader from his subjects, because when the oppressor is sure that the oppressed person will have no access to the Leader, he becomes even more oppressive.”

In order to assist a Leader to administer justice and deliver good governance, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio advised that a Leader should:-

“Firstly appoint an upright Chief Councillor who wakes the Leader up when he sleeps, gives him light when he cannot see in the dark and reminds him of doing good when he forgets. Secondly appoint a Chief Judge who is not restrained by anyone’s censure in upholding Allah’s Law (of justice). Thirdly appoint a just Chief of Police who ensures that the weak obtains justice from the powerful”.

Distinguished Members of NIREC, these quotations show the very high premium Islam places on justice and good governance, without which there cannot be peace and security. In the absence of peace and security, no community or National can prosper.

In a multi-religious Nation like Nigeria, the National Constitution and the National Laws provide for goodgovernance through justice and fairness. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, for example, opened with the following wordings:-

We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;Having firmly and solemnly resolved to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and dissoluble sovereign Nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter African solidarity, World peace, international co-operation and understanding;

And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good governance and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people; Do hereby make enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution:

The supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution is in no doubt, therefore anybody breaching its provisions on good governance based on the principles of freedom, equality and justice is committing a serious offence, publishable by the prescribed Laws in the country.

The constitutional opening statement that, “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Havingfirmly and solemnly resolved to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and dissoluble sovereign Nation under God…” has clearly spelt out the religious nature of Nigeria that has absolute Faith in God.

Therefore, obedience to God’s injunctions should be paramount in the hearts of all Nigerians.

The two great Religions of Christianity and Islam teach the importance of good governance and its benefits. The two Religions also teach the misfortunes of having bad governance. Islam and Christianity teach that, all humans are accountable to God for their actions or inactions while on Earth. Leaders in particular, at whatever level and in whatever capacity, are admonished strongly to administer with justice and fairness without which there shall be no peace and progress. In addition, Leaders are constantly reminded in Islam and in Christianity that they shall account to Almighty God in the Hereafter.

Distinguished Members of NIREC, we shall all account to God for the Leadership of our various Religious Groups. On the Government side, the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary and all those in government services who have the authority and responsibility over the wealth and affairs of Nigeria; carry the responsibility of 190 million Nigerians and shall account for that responsibility before God! Prophet Muhammad (SAW) told Muslims that, 

“A leader is a steward in respect of those who are placed under him…and is accountable (to Allah) for those people and things placed under his care”.

(Reported by Bukhari and Muslim). In a similar vein, the Holy Bible states that;

“For they (Leaders) keeps watch over you as they who must give an account (to God)”. (Hebrews 13:17)

Distinguished Members of NIREC, it is very important for us to note that; good or bad governance is normally ascribed to Leaders alone forgetting that the Citizens have an equal share in good or bad governance. Good Leader emerges from a good society and bad Leaders emerge from a bad society. Therefore, each member of a society needs to change his or her bad habits and attitudes for the society as a whole to change from bad one to a good one. ALL people, and not only the Leaders, shall account to God in the Hereafter, therefore each and every member of a community or Nations must strive to contribute his or her positivequota to the good governance of the Nation. It is only by so doing that felicity shall be attained, peace and security entrenched and progress and prosperity achieved.

Thank you for listening and may God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PEACE IS THE FRUIT OF JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

 

PEACE IS THE FRUIT OF JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

 Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

 

The bold proclamation of, “Let Peace Reign in Nigeria” was the theme of the second quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) held on March 29, 2019 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, laying a strong emphasis on the imperative of justice and good governance. In furtherance of this aspiration, “Justice and Good Governance for Peace” waschosen as the theme for the third quarter meeting of July 23, 2019 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. This theme was necessary more so, now that the nation is increasingly starring into the abyss ofunnecessary religious and ethnic conflict. Central to this, is the need to realize and recognize that God created human beings in his likeness, and the justice of God lies in the fact that God has made Himself and His love known to everyone without admixture of error. God has put in the hearts and minds of everyone how to live and relate to each other on the earth that he has given us freely to dwell in. Ethnic and religious stigmatization will therefore be a distraction in dealing with people who have chosen the path of criminality. Crime has no tribe and religion. Good governance is an antidote to this danger,under which everyone, Zones and Religions are exposed to the dividends of justice. Peace would flow like a river when equity is respected in governance.

 

Irrespective of the definition criteria used, we can perceive a structure of three classes in Nigeria: The Upper, Middle and Lower classes. These classes are not mutually exclusive, as people transit from one class to the other all the time, and peaceful coexistence demands a high level of interaction between them. Largely, in every society, the lowest class tends to have the least education and the means to move up into the other classes. However, many of us have overcome the barriers of moving up and away from the lowest class. Authentic justice would depend on how we manage the lowest class. One of the ways to do this is to recognize and tap into the natural knowledge that is innate in every human being, irrespective of formal education. Every member of the aforementioned classes can actively participate in dialogue of life, religious experience, encounter, action and dialogue of love. In dialogue of theological exchange and literary discourse, we tend to discount any possible contribution from the lowest class, as these are dismissed as “uneducated” or “illiterate”. 

 

To make dialogue more effective, comprehensive or encompassing, it should involve individuals at the grassroots so as not to reduce dialogue only to the pages of newspapers, social media and academic conferences. This is why NIREC is embarking on reaching the Geo-political zones and States ofNigeria. NIREC will continue to engage the youths and this will include reaching out to the students in Primary, Secondary, higher institutions and NYSC orientation camps. Another initiative is the proposed training of trainers in the Board Room of the office of NIREC at the Federal Secretariat complex, Abuja, which is intended to produce experts in dialogue and peacebuilding who will take the message of justice, peace and good governance to every Nigerian. The transformation of any society depends on the level of the positive change of attitude of every one of its members. Once individuals have peace within themselves, we can then guarantee a society and nation adorned with peaceful coexistence. 

 

Since NIREC is made up of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). it would not be out of place for any Christian or Muslim to write a petition to the council.  The Co-Chairmen of NIREC are committed to looking into matters that could cause conflict between Christians and Muslims. The office of the Secretary to Government (OSGF) is giving the Council appreciable attention. This has made NIREC a visible sign of Government’s promotion of dialogue and Peacebuilding. We,therefore, are encouraged to take advantage of this development, to make Nigeria a peaceful and secure nation. If you must demand justice in writing, think properly of whose interest you are fighting.

 

In collaboration with NIREC, faith-based councils or organizations need to take very seriously, conflict transformation which could bring about harmony and relationship that should exist between all the aforementioned classes using all forms of dialogue. The tools for these relationships are unbiased and focused service delivery; prompt emergency response; faithfulness to our laws; intensive application of basic human rights, as well as close collaboration and transparency among the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary arms of our government. To address some of the challenges, there is also need to develop relationship-building strategies for the elites of the middle class, based on social justice. There is an urgent need for the middle class to engage in rational evaluation before reacting to issues raised on the media or online. Promoting unverifiable, and uncharitable information can lead to anarchy and conflict. While everybody has the right to be listened to, there is need to identify a target partner who would respond, since dialogue is a call and response activity. Those at the bottom level should be meaningfully engaged such that they can take care of their basic needs.

 

Religious leaders should be proactive in establishing and promoting mutual relationships. Already existing friendship helps in preventing mutual suspicion and prejudice. It aidsnonviolent advocacy, limits damage, aids reconciliation, healing of trauma and hurts, regeneration and working on the historic memory. Existing relationships give rise to the creation of social space for offering and receiving graciousness. It creates space for discovery and building new relationships. Justice and good governance can open the hearts of the citizens for peaceful coexistence. Credible people and criminals exist in every tribe. To prevent the syndrome of stigmatizing a particular ethnic group, criminals must be made to face justice regardless of their tribe or religion. To assist the government’s security agents in doing this, traditional and political leaders of each ethnic group must expose the criminals who are destroying their ethnic integrity and shaming their tribes. As the saying goes, “the relation of a mentally-challenged person has a duty to prevent him from roaming the forest and streets”. The bad eggs in the various ethnic groups must be disciplined by their leaders to know that a good name is better than silver and gold.

 

Conflict has never brought success or progress to a person, community or nation.  Let us therefore promote only the information that is true, good and useful to build a healthy society. Let writers keep their pens from provocative publications just as those who talk should keep their tongues from evil and their lips from hate speeches. Government at all levels must have the political will to manage ethnic diversity and religious pluralism. Let us strive to harness the innate beauty and strength of our diversity. Unity is strength and in justice we can stand strong as a united people. Yes, in justice, we can carry our Nigerian passport with pride as good Nigerians. Let us be good ambassadors of our home and native land. May God bless us with justice and good governance! May we love as human beings who will give account to God on the day of judgement! May the peace of God abide with us forever!

 

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) (nirec.ng@gmail.com)