FROM DREAM TO REALITY; REVIEWED BY CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR,Ph.D.

“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.

ALHAJI ISHAQ KUNLE SANNI

FATHER CORNELIUS OMONOKHUA, PROLIFIC INFLUENTIAL WRITER AND UNCOMMON ADVOCATE OF INTERRELIGIOUS HARMONY IN THE WORLD

Ishaq Kunle Sanni

Foundation Member NIREC

Co-chairman IDFP (Interreligious Dialogue Forum for Peace)

I did not have any intimate interface with Father Cornelius Omonokhua until he became the Executive Secretary of the prestigious NIGERIAN INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL (NIREC).

When his work began it was like love at first sight between us. But as somebody who had been injured psychologically at an impressionable young age by religious bigots at the other side of the divide, I was cynical and took his seemingly affection towards me with circumspection and if you like it a pinch of salt. It did not take a long time for me to realise this is no theatrical exhibition of affection but something genuine that emanates from the heart.

We, despite doctrinal differences, have a lot in common; we see humanity as one. We don't perceive criminals from primordial lenses of ethno-religious bigots. If a man is a criminal even if he is a Christian call him by his name not by his religion. If a man is a rapist don't call him by his Islamic faith, call him by his name not by his religion. We are not carried away by the stereotyping and profiling the trademark of pollutants and religious demagogues.

Father Cornelius does not carry on his head the arrogance of a celebrated intellectual. That is why he would condescend so low to ask an intellectual lilliputian like me to edit what he a professor had written. For the information of those who don't know my academic pedigree I don't even possess a PhD. What Father Omonokhua had succeeded in his love for an intellectual upstart is to stampede me inadvertently to become a research fellow trying to satisfy the yearnings of a fertile brain who loved to write to create a near perfect religious coexistence in the society of his domicility.

Our generalissimos in NIREC, His Eminences the Sultan and CAN president would have been amazed by the calm and equanimity with which Father Cornelius took their criticism when he was just cutting his teeth as Executive Secretary of NIREC. Today he is the doyen of these great religious leaders as he now has the image of a perfectionist in his job even when working under impossible condition of ill health

STATE OF THE NATION

Father Cornelius and I even when there is no prior discussion are always on the same page on National issues. Amnesty for surrendering Boko Haram members As I feel elated on the surrender of thousands of these devilish deviants called Boko Haram, I cannot fathom the unreasonable idea of granting them amnesty. My initial idea,

borne out of ignorance of international law that it is criminal to kill a surrendering soldier, I would have unabashedly advocated wasting these callous criminally inconsiderate vagabonds who have slaughtered thousands of innocent men and women. Be that as it may they should face trial for war against the nation and spend the rest of their lives in jail. They are obviously surrendering because of the unprecedented and superior fire power of the Nigerian Airforce which was the giant stride gleaned from the sophisticated super Tucano helicopter recently acquired from USA, which has resulted in their decimation and annihilation in thousands.

For Boko Haram members to be granted amnesty is like allowing them to dance on the grave of thousands they have eliminated unprovoked. The Military high command should not let off their guards for the materialistic conquest that comes in the wake of war prolongation. If they succeed, posterity will write their names in gold.

Hate speech and verbal diarrhoea

Though the Secretary to the Federal government was mischievously misquoted for calling for the arrest of Muslims and Christian priest who instigate violence, I want to advice that any Muslim or Christian cleric propagating hate speech or instigating his members to violence should be arrested and prosecuted. If Gold should rust, what should we expect from lesser metals. The modus operandi behind these unwholesome acts is the wave of clerics who crave for heroism by spewing innuendos at the inglorious expense of peace and harmonious religious tranquillity of this potentially great country. Religious leaders should be harbingers of peace, not of violence.

Sack of ministers

If we have in the past rightly or wrongly almost crucify the president for being unrepentantly nepotic, we should at least give kudos to him for the courageous step in sacking the Minister of power and the Minister of Agriculture for alleged unwholesome misdemeanours. For this country to be great there should be no sacred cows. If all those big fishes arrested for kidnapping and banditry have been summarily dealt with these levels of criminal impunity would have subsided considerably.

People are asking why Wadume, who wasted the lives of security men who went to arrest him, when without any equivocation he had been pinpointed as the kingpin of kidnapping for ransom in Katsina. What of Evans the billionaire wicked murderer probably the richest of kidnappers in the history of Nigeria still doing in the gulag after he was sentenced to death.

Youth empowerment

At the last meeting of NIREC a delegation met leaders of security agencies to give some words of advice which I think was the right step in the right direction. I suggest all the thirty-six Governors and Minister of FCT should also be interfaced with. They should be

told the gospel truth. The only way to checkmate the criminal tendencies of our youth is to provide them with sustainable empowerment. Most of our Governors embark on white elephant projects which is just for political grandstanding and unnecessary propaganda.

Can you imagine a Governor renovating a stadium with over five billion naira in a state with a battalion of employed youths? As God would have it, the rain exposed the chicanery and sophistry, as rains came in torrents showing a wishy-washy job was done on the fixing of the roofs.

Our leaders should tell them to create jobs through industries and technology propelled farms not stadium or airports that services only the elites.

CONCLUSION

The job of securing our polity from the bandits and criminally inclined marauders is principally that of the government but we all have roles to play. political gangsterism being perpetrated by political juggernauts is metaphor for crudity and trivialisation of the fear of the Almighty.

We are the most Religious on earth but one of the most Godless. Religiosity will not win us paradise, Godliness will.

I congratulate my brother Father Cornelius Omonokhua on the launch of these books. More ink to your pen.

May Allah fertilise your brain more and more and endow you with good health and longevity of life.

Safe trip to all our guests

May Allah's peace and unfathomable blessings envelope you all God bless you

ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PROFILING IS AVOIDABLE

“ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS 

AND POLITICAL PROFILING IS AVOIDABLE”

Cornelius A. Omonokhua

 

The 2nd quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious council (NIREC) took place on May 19, 2021 at ReizContinental Hotel Abuja with the theme. “ETHNIC,RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PROFILING IS AVOIDABLE”. This theme was chosen because of the incessant attacks and unrest in Nigeria. NIREC is a council jointly owned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). NIREC with different committees to assist government at all levels to promote peaceful co-existence, security, unity, wellbeing and the common good of the Nigerian citizens. Neither Christians nor Muslims can effectively reconcile the differences and divisions in Nigeria hence both in the form of dialogue of social engagements seek to unite to reconcile the religious, ethnic and political pluralism of the nation.

 

I believe in Nigeria and I am proud to be a Nigerian. Let us not get trapped in international politics. Some of us are who we are and what we are within the space and opportunities offered by Nigeria. That things seem to be falling apart now does not mean that Nigeria will never rise again. Those who have travelled to other parts of Africa may believe that Nigeria is a home in spite of the present challenges. This theme is chosen to open up a conversation on the beauty of varieties. Differences and commonalities are not peculiar to Nigeria as a nation. Somalia is one of the countries that had a single tribe and a single religion. Students of world history would not easily forget   Somalia as a failed State when their citizens and leaders started to stress clans within the common tribe.

 

I believe in a united Nigeria because I do not believe that the problem of Nigeria is Ethnicity, Religion and Democracy. I believe that the problem of Nigeria is more of greed of the few that has put the majority into abject penury and hardship. We must not allow greedy people and international politicians fragment Nigeria with Religion and Ethnicity. The earlier we believe that there is no conflict between Islam and Christianity in Nigeria the better for each one of us and the nation at large. This does not mean that Christians and Muslims do not have conflict. It is this conflict that calls for dialogue, conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict transformation. That a Muslim is President does not mean that the challenges of the country connote an Islamic agenda just as it should not be interpreted when a Christian is a President, that the woes of the nation is a Christian agenda. 

 

What we need more today is a change of attitude and values on the side of the citizens if the nation must make progress. While we pray for good leadership, let us also pray for mental re-engineering of the citizens. The challenges we have in Nigeria are more of values and vision than the failure of structure. Leaders may be incompetent in providing security in a particular regime, this does not mean that Nigeria lacks credible and capable human beings with the sufficient capacity to lead the Nation. We must not allow tribe and religion to be our source of division and choice of political leaders. If we must fight, let us fight for supremacy in moral values and technological renaissance. If every citizen in Nigeria is comfortable, secure and happy, No one will think of ethnic, religious and political profiling. 

 

Our common humanity is a call to common nationality. If we believe that we all came from the same source, namely, Almighty God who is our common Creator, we shall be able to avoid ethnic and religious profiling. That we are created human beings with intelligence, soul and spirit means that we need to find unity in our ethnic and religious multiplicity. Here, we can also affirm our common Nigerian identity. The Federal Government need to create a conducive environment for unity by strengthening the Police and the Judiciary. The failure of the Police Force and Judiciary can ruin any nation in terms of security. If there is justice for every citizen, that would go a long way to prevent ethnic and religious profiling. If there is justice, the nation would not need to deploy the army for internal insurrection.

 

The situation in the world today calls for media honesty and information management. The media ought to source news based on truth that promote common wellbeing. Information must be a product of sufficient enquiry and dialogue on the issues at stake. Conflicting issues call for dialogue of encounter with policy makers. Rushing to the press can lead to negative reportage and media dishonesty. We must avoid using the media as brain washing machines to manipulate the readers and listeners. Unfounded sources in media coverage can lead to war because “until the Lion learns to write; the story will always glorify the hunter.”  This is why the office of NIREC has called on the media assistants to the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to be friends, cross check facts and work as a team to promote positive reportage and media honesty. We believe that this effort would prevent ethnic, religious and political profiling. 

 

The foot soldiers during any form of insurgency are jobless youths. Nobody who values life with a good job may carry weapons of human destruction. To empower the youths, NIREC in collaboration with KAICIID is involved in an ongoing project titled, "voice of the youth". The project is targeted at youths in eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State metropolis. Town Hall meetings are held in each of these LGAs with the view of enlightening the youth on peaceful coexistence, healthy living and importance of dialogue.  At the end of it all, their opinions would be sought-after on government policies. The final report would be presented to the State Governor, Kano House of Assembly, Kano Attorney General and the Emir of Kano. It is hoped that this project would advocate for youth friendly policies in the State. After, Kano State, we hope to move to other States. With the inauguration of the different committees of NIREC, Christians and Muslims hope to be more involved in the concerns and issues that would promote a united Nigeria in the place of any profiling that could put this great nation asunder. 

 

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