“FROM DREAM TO REALITY – DIALOGUE OF ENCOUNTER”
BY: REV FR (PROF) AFEBU OMONOKHUA
A REVIEW BY:
CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR,Ph.D.
INTRODUCTION
It is admittedly a most herculean and unenviabletask for anyone to step into the large shoes of Chief (Dr) Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, Ph.D, in an effort to carry out the task of expertly presenting his review of a book or any scholarly endeavour of his for that matter. This is predicated on the sheer prowess of that Legal Icon, an internationally acclaimed Author,prolific writer, a pan- Nigerian public commentator, Analyst, and an uncommon orator of the highest nobility.
With all sense of modesty, you will all readily agree with me that the cobbler that made his shoes will always meticulously craft and customize them in such a way that they certainly do not fit into any other person’s legs. It is only left to imagine therefore, how uncomfortable I am this afternoon to find myself in suchuncommon shoes.
As if the profile of the book reviewer is not intimidating enough, the book I am to render its review, in the over-sized shoes of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is itself a product of an amazing author and Intellectual guru, Rev. Fr.(Prof) Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Ph.D. Chief Ozekhome once described Fr. Omonokhua to me as a “Cleric Activist on the pulpit, in whom God deposited so much knowledge and wisdom that one is almost tempted to ask God the question, ‘how come you endowed a single human being with so much intellectual resources’ ”.
THE BOOK AS REVIEWED BY CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN.
The focal point of the book, “FROM DREAM TO REALITY, DIALOGUE OF ENCOUNTER”, is a meticulous trip on the path in nation building and how mutual tolerance and unity of Nigerians can build a peaceful egalitarian society, and possibly lead us to our Eldorado.
The 358 page book is divided into 13 chapters. Some of the most provoking chapters are 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
In the Book, the author makes several references to the NIREC which stands for THE NIGERIA INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL. NIREC was created on 11th September, 1999, in an effort to bring leaders of the two major Religious groups in Nigeria (Christianity and Islam), to come together and devise ways and means ofpromoting peace; and instilling tolerance and love in the followers and members of bothdivides.
INSECURITY AND SUNDRY PROBLEMS BEDIVILLING NIGERIA
The truth remains, as clearly pointed out by the author in the book that, no nation can develop without sustainable peace. By peace, the author means genuine peace; not the type of detestable peace that late Chief M.K.O Abiola (the undoubted matyr of Nigeria’s democracy) once described as “peace of the graveyard”, or “peace of the cemetery”. At 59, Nigeria ought to be enjoying dividends of democracy and of peaceful coexistence at all levels, notwithstanding our political, ethnic, linguistic and religious differences. However, Nigeria is today embroiled in a sorry state of strife, insecurity, corruption and a parlous economy. The picture is not looking bright at all.
In this regard, the author, posited thus:
“There are so many questions that are crying for answers. We must respond to some of these questions concerning the causes of killings in Kaduna State, Rivers State, Niger State and all the States that are witnessing violence .If we can no longer reduce these killings to only religion and politics, then we must ask further if the killings are ethnic cleansing? Who is to act? When is it to act, where to act, what to react to and how to react is what we can also think seriously about. Who do we engage in times of violence if not the security agents? Are they willing and ready for the job? How do we identify and develop the voice of reason by building vertical and horizontal capacity? We need people that have the capacity to reach the top from the bottom. In other words, people that can reach the poor, middle class, the rich and the people in leadership positions. The people with the voice of reason can reach from top to bottom and vice versa. These people are very influential. People with passion for dialogue and peace can be used to form the structure that can communicate at all levels to build bridges across divides in form of horizontal capacity. This is where the motives of those who desire political positions could be questioned. Is power for common good or personal interest?”
This audacious book takes a deep introspective look at the causes of insecurity in Nigeria, including the rampant discords and schisms across the different geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The book theorizes on such reasons and the possible ideological basis for these reasons.
On the security challenges in Nigeria, the author insists that all hands must be on deck in a valiant move to sort out these challenges in both vertical and horizontal capacities. The fecund author views open dialogue between people of different classes as a veritable means of getting to the root of these insecurity challenges and collectively seeking solutions.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Since NIREC is made up of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), it would not be out of place for any Christian or Muslim to write a petition to the Council for solution to grievances. The Co-Chairmen of NIREC must be committed to proactively looking into matters that could cause conflict between Christians and Muslims, before they snow- ball into uncontrollable crisis. The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has been lending the Council appreciable attention. This has made NIREC a visible and veritable source of Government's promotion of dialogue and Peace buildingbetween peoples of the two main religions in Nigeria. The author posits that all Nigerians must be encouraged to take advantage of thisrefreshing development, with a view to making Nigeria a more peaceful and secured nation. For us to demand justice in writing, we must first think properly of whose interest we are serving.
In collaboration with NIREC, faith-based councils or organizations need to take very seriously, the use of dialogue and conflict transformation, which have the capacity of bringing about peace and harmony in the relationship existing between all the aforementioned classes. The tools for these relationships, writes author, are unbiased and focused service delivery; prompt emergency response; faithfulness to our laws; intensiveobservance and 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 the 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 concrete or online. The author notes that promoting unverifiable and uncharitable information could lead to chaos, anarchy and conflicts. 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.
In very lucid language and depth of thought that this man of God is known for, Prof Omonokhuatheorises that religious leaders should be proactive in establishing and promoting mutual relationships. Already existing friendship helps in preventing mutual suspicion and prejudice. It aids nonviolent 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. Since credible people and criminals exist in every tribe.
The author does not stop here. He argues that 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 putting their tribes to shame. As the saying goes, says Fr.Omonokhua, “the relation of a mentally-challenged person has a duty to prevent him/her from roaming the forest and streets”. The bad eggs in the various ethnic groups must therefore be disciplined by their leaders to enable them know that a good name is better than silver and gold.
While noting that conflict has never brought success or progress to a person, community or nation, Fr. Afebu calls for the promotion of only information that is true, factual, 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. Fr. Omonokhuaadvises that governments at all levels must have the political will to manage Nigeria’s ethnic diversity and religious pluralism. He believes that we must strive to harness the innate beauty and strength of our diversity; since unity is strength, while in justice, we can stand strong as a united people.
The book does not do only damage assessment by merely looking at Nigeria’s insecurity problems that are admittedly legion; but, more importantly, it proffers what solutions must be adopted, not only by NIREC, but also by every Nigerian of all classes. This is with a view to enthroning peace, tolerance, mutual respect, egalitarianism and prosperity for all in our beloved country.
HOW TO BE PEACE BUILDERS IN NIGERIA
On how to be peace builders in Nigeria, Prof Omonokhua in his acclaimed uncommon brilliance and lucidity of thought, digs into his inexhaustible depth and breadth of knowledge and proffers the following thought- provoking panacea:
“Be opened to the Lord so that he may lighten all your ways.”
Every NIREC delegate should strive to be a connector in peace building.
Every peace-builder and conflict manager should be an actor and a connector who must through dialogue engage the funders, promoters, dividers and beneficiaries of conflict to see the need for conflict transformation as an integral part of humanity. God did not create human beings in isolation hence no man is an island just as no tree can make a forest. As long as human beings live in different forms of communities, the quest for peaceful co-existence is inevitable. The most visible structure of Government's support for peace-building and nation building in Nigeria is the existence of NIREC. It would do the nation a lot of good if every Christian and Muslim could identify with NIREC as a family and model of peaceful co-existence. This divine obligation would promote a culture of non-violence. Consequently, NIREC delegates need personal and institutional skills that would enable them take Nigeria to a level where the citizens do not merely survive on the remnants of the rich but live and experience life in abundance (John 10:10).We need to transform negative peace of oppression, discrimination and inequality to positive peace of a just and fair society for all and the restoration of relationships. To be happy in life, we need structures that can sustain peaceful societies and NIREC has the capacity and potentials for this mission. Let us therefore make the world a better place. Let us be among the connectors and refuse to join the dividers in peace-building. When there is a will, there is a way. So let us make paradise on earth by the grace of God. Let nothing stop us now!
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I wholly agree with Prof SaniAbubakar Lugga, FNIM, the Waziri of Katsina, that this rich book on interfaith, is a rare collector’s item that can supply the much needed missing link in our mutual existence, to enable us live and walk in the fulfilment of God’s eternal purpose for us all.
Like Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni said, it is time for us to ask, if there is still a father out there who can boldly tell his children to emulate him, in the same way like author’s father once did; or mothers who can honestly and proudly tell their children, as the author’s mother once admonished him, “work does not kill”.
The incisive and energizing stories from Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua’s parents, as Sr. Dr. Stella Bassey Esirah, calls them, will surely provide a road map to destiny fulfilment in an era role models are in very short supply. Therefore, there is no gainsaying that interfaith dialogue is the only bridge that will transform our Nation “from Dreamland to Reality”.
This rich book, in its nearly 400 pages, has the answers to Nigeria’s conflicts and insecurity challenges. From page to page, the book drips with rare wisdom, fecund analysis and intelligent solutions. The book is a bold and courageous sermon from the pulpit by an intellectual prodigy of a fearless Cleric. It constitutes a potpouri ofthe scripture, history, religion, sociology,anthropology, philosophy, logic, political scienceand current affairs. It is a must read, not only bythose who work in the body of Christ and labourin the Lord’s vineyard; but also, by the family unit, our entire political class; the academia; the youth; social scientists; professionals; government functionaries; and all those who thirst for the truth as to how to build a just, peaceful and egalitarian society.
I therefore whole-heartedly recommend this book to ALL and SUNDRY.
