By Young Erhiurhoro
As an advocate of peace or a peacemaker, I have written much on peaceful coexistence of people, families and communities. The importance of peace in our everyday living is far worth any monetary offer or position anybody will attain in this life. Peace is paramount to our existence as human beings in our community. This is why we can’t dare to rule out the importance of peace in our lives as people and as a community.
For sometime now, Unenurhie community is boiling fiercely as a result of leadership tussle. Since this issue started last year, we thank God that the election was done peacefully and successfully without spilling no human blood on the soil of the community. But the issue on ground at the moment is even worse than the one of the elections. This is because there are one or two court cases and numerous petitions pending in the police station as a result of the process and conducting of the past elections. It’s really difficult for we to accept victory in good faith and love as people do in their different communities. We must bring out one fallacy or shortfall to create or foment trouble in any of our electoral scenes. It’s usually part of us as a people.
No doubt, the community is at the edge of crisis at the moment. We have definitely created opposition and enmity in the community. We see each other as enemies. We look at ourselves as troublemakers instead of peacemakers. This is truly telling so much on us as a community on the negative side.
As a result of these court cases and petitions in the police station, we will discover that the present UCDU leadership led by Williams Ilayah is no longer stable to carry on the task of administration in the community in stable and comfortable manner. This is as a result of lack of peace in the community at the moment. When the mind of a leader is continuously troubled, it’s very difficult for such a leader to make productive decisions that can impact so much on the community. This is exactly the stage we as a community at the moment.
What are we really fighting for in Unenurhie community? Do we want to join forces with evil neighbours to wipe out the Unenurhie community? No matter our motive or reason for embarking on this unending journey, the result would be always calamitous and disastrous. This is why it’s advisable for us as Unenurhie people to toll the part of peace at the point in time. Carrying the placards of peace will make us to grow and develop faster as a community.
We shouldn’t forget that as a community, we have tasted the gory experiences of internal crises one or two times before now. Those of us that physically witnessed it knew how bitter and sour the water was. Such people can’t preach crisis to end this our leadership challenges today. It’s not a good means to restructure the leadership. There are better ways to handle leadership issues than to resort to crisis at every election in a small community like ours.
Without being told, each of us should know the negative effects of criss in a community. In it, we may end up in killing our own brothers and sisters as a result of opposition and enmity we have foolishly created because of leadership tussle. We may equally end up in destroying properties worth millons of naira at the end of the day.
I must confess to you that, since we have started leadership crisis in 2000 in the community, the community is since thrown off balance. We are no longer one as a people or community. We see ourselves as enemies in a battle ground. And one of the primary motive why so many people venture into leadership struggle in the community is for reprisals. Some people what to pay back what they or their kinsmen have suffered in the hands of leaders in the community. These are uncontrollable leadership barriers and setbacks in the community. It’s quite expedient for leaders and Unenurhie people to cultivate “forgiving spirit” . Over 70% of Unenurhie people are Christians, yet we don’t know or deliberately refuse to forgive our neighbours. This is uncalled for in a harmonious and lovely environment.
THE WAY FORWARD
As it’s now, we always say, when two are fighting, the third should make peace. We can only make a way of peace and settlement in this leadership tussle when we understand ourselves. First, let’s define and know who we are in the midst of our neighbouring communities. Do we really expect any of them as a third party to come and settle this imbroglio? Considering our topographical location as a people, do we want to join forces with these our neighbours to wipe us out of existence? Let’s try to provide answers to the above questions. Your answers to the above questions as Unenurhie man or woman will determine whether to end this unnecessary rancour or to continue with it.
In my own case, I have already answered the questions for myself. This is why I’m calling everybody or all parties involved in this leadership tussle to sheath our swords now. Let’s keep the past behind and try to forge ahead as people that want to protect our ancestry, image and identity. Let’s try to forgive one another if truly you want God to also forgive you of your evils and sins. Or are you saying you are a saint or a righteous one?
As it’s now, we have no a third person to invite to settle our problems. We can amicably settle our own problems if we wish to do so. First, those that have cases in the law courts should happily withdraw their cases without force or fight. Secondly, all petitions pending in the police station should be withdrawn without delay. Thirdly, all decisions taken by the community leadership especially the Odion’Rode-In-Council should be reconsidered and withdrawn. Let’s understand ourselves and allow peace reign in this our community. There is no asset or property, no matter the amount that can be compared with peace. Let every of our gospel at this time be centered on peace. Let’s remove division, opposition and enmity as a people and as a community. We should know our enemies and find ways to avoid them. Let peace reigns!
Erhiurhoro;Kjc, is former Secretary-General of the UCDU
