Prof. Hagher Proffers Solutions To Nigeria’s Growing Insecurity, Disunity

***Dismisses Use Of Brute Force

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

Ambassador Professor Iyorwuese Hagher has proffered solutions to the growing insecurity and disunity in Nigeria, canvassing that the nation needs political leaders who will focus more on “compassion and forgiveness” rather than “brute military might”.

He stressed that political leaders and elites must “embrace nation-building as an intentional act of bringing together our different tribes and kingdoms, of uniting geography and demography into one cohesive country whose institutions, foundation, and resilience are enhanced.”

Prof Hagher said that nation-building involves state-building which attributes must include “democratization, modernization, political development, and post-conflict peace-building.”

He spoke at an event marking the celebration of him at 72 years organized by his former students, friends and colleagues which also coincided with the public presentation and unveiling of his latest book, “The Conquest of Azenga, 2021” and 12 other previous books written by him.

Dignitaries unveiling the books written by Ambassador Professor Iyorwuese Hagher

According to him, “We need leaders with strong ideals who are prepared for the pains and suffering needed to foster change. We need politicians who look inwards in their conscience for approval rather than become outside approval-seeking machines, whose public action is measured only by external praise from their primordial base.

“To restore peace in the land, we must concentrate more on compassion and forgiveness than on brute military might, we must explore all avenues of restorative justice to replace retributive justice. Only by innovation, critical thinking, and conceptualization of our reality can we build lasting peace from the ashes of our security nightmare.

“As leaders, we must be prepared to rein in our greed and be prepared to die a little so that our country can live more. We need stellar leaders who believe in and do the right things for our country.

“We call on our elite to embrace
nation-building as an intentional act of bringing together our different tribes and kingdoms, of uniting geography and demography into one cohesive country whose institutions, foundation, and resilience are enhanced.

“Nation-building is state-building. It is democratization, modernization, political development, and post-conflict peace-building.”

He further observed that the World is crying out for leaders with unprecedented courage to advance the course of common humanity by confronting the racists and tribalists.

He further said: “As leaders, we must be wary of race, tribalism, wealth, and gender as instruments of power and control. We need a new different and better world, where the weak and strong can look at each other and hold hands to sing aloud, “ arise all compatriots”, and mean it from our souls and minds to obey our calls for duty and sacrifice to re-build our systems, institutions, and resilience.

“As leaders, we must be prepared to rein in our greed and be prepared to die a little so that our country can live more. We need stellar leaders who believe in and do the right things for our country.

“The world is growing a younger population that must be prepared, for harnessing the potential of a better world. In Nigeria 80 % of the population is under the age of 40
years.

“We need to prepare them with adequate knowledge and experience to live in a better world than those we live in now. We need to prepare these youth with universal access to economic opportunities and social
services.

“Nigeria is a victim of multiple fatalities. The citizens are crying so much that the tears have obscured their ability to see and build a better future. There has been too much
bloodshed in the country recently. It is necessary to say and again say a thousand times that there has been too much bloodshed in the country. We are adversaries to ourselves.

“My colleague politicians must look at the present security challenges as a unique opportunity to rise to the true calling as leaders and to embrace healing. A young democracy like ours is bound to be messy. Democracies tend to be messy.

“This is the time for us to think deeply and far for the future of our children. Our present security nightmare and descent into dystopia have made responsible people reticent, self-effacing, and opting to
hide to avoid being harmed or hurt.

“As political leaders, we must understand that leaders are leaders only when they act as leaders. Leadership is acting responsibly in doing the right things rather than doing selfish wrong things.

“Leading is not seats and positions occupied. It is actions taken in situations that make the followers better. We need a different type of politics and politicians. We
must shun the politics of meanness and cruelty that is in vogue for one of empathy and love. We must close the gap between elected officials and the voters.

“The voters do not deserve the horsewhips and the gun-totting invasions from the police that are their servants. We must stop acting like conquistadors but be each other’s keepers. We are all held together by our mutuality what affects one affects all. At the end of all governance, the duty of leadership is to make the citizens happier. We believe like Alexander Pope, that “ Of forms of government let fools contest, whatever is administered best is best.”

He canvassed for the liberation of African women whom he described as being turned into “beast of burden”, noting that men have continued to oppress them.

“They are an equal part of us. We have continued to oppress them so much that they have become used to being beasts of burden. They carry the burdens of society’s injustices and suffer most when we go to war. They do this without a whimper.
This is the time we must stand and have their back to rise and be an equal part of everything life offers”, he said.

Those present include former governor of Venue state, Senator Gabriel Suswam; former Minister of Internal Affairs, Senator Abba Moro; Prof Mabel I.E. Evwierhoma of University of Abuja, who made a critic on the creative works (books) of Amb. Prof. Hagher.

Prof. lyorwuese Harry Hagher, OON , FSONTA was born 25th June 1949 He is a Professor of Theatre for Development, playwright, poet, politician administrator and activist for social justice.

He is renowned for his groundbreaking research on Kwagh-Hir theatre, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2019.

Hagher was elected Senator in 1983 and served as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate. He was also Secretary of the Senate Caucus Committee.

He served twice as Hon Minister and participated as Member of the 1994 National Constitutional Conference. Prof Hagher was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico and later as High Commissioner to Canada.

He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). He is President of African Leadership Institute, Dayton, Ohio, USA.