CORE VALUES FOR REBUILDING THE UNITY
OF AMO LAND: (TIBO NWORU KIMAP MUNUATI)
ABSTRACT
“In Amo land, dis-unity and backbiting
continues to receive unpretentious social endorsement, while
genuine industry and righteousness get scorned. In this
land, the hitherto revered consciences of society and
custodians and co-offers in the temple of Justice have
conspired to betray Justice for a mesh of porridge. In the
land, malice has climbed the high walls of the entire social
structures including the sacrosanct wall of religious
institutions. Hence, there is an aggressive need to rebuild
the unity of the land as experienced in the time of Ugo
Adana, Katura and etc.”
INTRODUCTION
When the celebrated writer and a great
sociologist Frantz Fanon postulated that “every generation
of people out of relative obscurity discovers their mission
and that they either fulfill or they betray it”. He was in
fact, making a statement that neither restricted by
geographical Jurisdiction nor limited by chronological
calculations. That statement has universal applicability and
gains even more currency in our land (Amo) of curious
socio-political ironies and exciting economic contradictions
which paved way for Dis-unity in the land. Ours is a society
where there is the unholy amalgam between extreme abundance
and intolerable want, between enviable wealth and unenviable
misery.
Amo land is a nation where crime and
criminality, dis-unity and back biting receive unpretentious
social endorsement while genuine industry and righteousness
get scorn. It is a hand where the hitherto revered
consciences of society and custodians and co-offers in the
temple of justice have conspired to betray justice for a
mesh of porridge. Amo land is a nation where malice, bribery
and corruption, killings of one another have climbed the
high walls of the entire social structures including the
sacrosanct wall of religious institutions and the judicial
system. Interestingly, that is the same society the Amo
under graduate is being prepared for. The Nation (Amo land)
has fallen on its knees and requires re-building Thus even
in the midst of these glooms, we should have a vision, we
should have a vision of unity and forgiveness of one another
in the land, a vision of a corrupt-free society, a vision of
justice-oriented society, a vision of a society truly
anchored on God. Here in lies the fulcrum of this essay.
This article is divided into different
sections the section immediately succeeding this
introductory part examines the conception of values in
general and core values for rebuilding the unity of Amo
land. The article then goes on to undertake an X-ray of the
social situations in the country today, observing pervasive
break down of civility and patterns of behavior required to
move Amo land forward. The last section undertakes a glimpse
into the future by calling for appropriate values for
re-building the unity of Amo land.
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION
Values may be defined as the highest
ethical parameters, standards and Criteria through which
individuals, groups and societies order their goals and
determine their choices and judge their social life. Core
values therefore provide dispassionate basic yardstick by
which wrong and right postures or attitudes are decided in
societal matters of an essentially holistic nature.
The concept of unity on the other hand may
be define as the state or quality of being one; singleness.
It may also mean the state or quality of being in accord;
harmony or in agreement.
The values required for rebuilding the unity of Amo
land include the following;
-Removal of regional, clan identities and
sectionalism -
----Ability to identify sychophants
-True forgiveness
-Cooperation
-Self-denial
-Justice and fair play
-Honesty and impartiality.
ISSUES AND PROSPECTS
As this article seeks to achieve an
intellectual framework for the realization of the values out
lined above, the land is once again, involved in the
cyclical ritual of introspection and self-criticism. In the
course of this debate, one can be rest assured that many of
the land’s chronic I’ll will be exposed to public view.
These maladies, which include large scale embezzlement of
public funds, excessive display of materialism,
mismanagement of national economy corrupt leadership and
above all, killing of one another caused by malice and back
biting, have contributed to the current state of under
development in the land, despite the immense human
and material resources at her disposal.
As we view these issues and their debilitating
effects very seriously, it would be hard to disagree that
they are symptomatic of more fundamental problem. This
obvious problem is the inherent disharmony created by the
imposition of the values and thought system of colonial
experience on experiences of the past. From the turbulent of
the present time; as it affects not only the condition of
our nation but also of others which find themselves in
similar circumstances. It may well be fair reflection to
assume that real and meaningful development can occur only
when this disjuncture is resolved and the indigenous systems
and their values and social morality take a prominent
position in shaping public policy and the management of
public affairs.
There is an urgent need to broaden our
conception of community to allow for different levels of
association and affiliation at both national and regional
levels. It is ironic that as the European states and similar
continental blocs are moving even closer to economic and
political union, Amo land is paying scant attention to the
needs and advantages of integration. We must realize that
our survival lies in the strength of our unity and any
effort to accentuate our cleavages will serve only to
reinforce our position as mere spectators on the global
arena.
Another fundamental issue is the
imperative of equity and justice in the management of public
affairs. Those who find themselves in charge of running the
affairs of the land must hold themselves in sacred trust,
accountable to the people. Undoubtedly, no nation can endure
and prosper where fair access to opportunities and resources
are denied innovation and hard work go unrewarded and the
circulation of national wealth is restricted to a handful of
individuals as the majority of its citizenry dwell in object
penury.
Let us look at the views of the following
personalities and take them seriously in our quest for
rebuilding the unity of Amo Land.
1.
Ciroma
(1999) argued that “we must stop viewing politics as a game.
Leadership is a great societal responsibilities and the
process of choosing a leader must be handled responsibly”.
Serious minded people, who have the interest of this land at
heart, must come together in a strong alliance, to take part
in the political process and help salvage the land. The
group should be intellectually robust, politically astute,
morally upright, imbued with the values and aspirations of
their environment and enjoying full support of their
communities. Only such groups will be able to build bridges,
negotiate disputes, develop a broad consensus on issues and
launch the Amo land on the part of stability and rapid
development.
2. Maitama
Sule (1997) asserted, “Talking of economies and economic
development, one cannot but admire the remarkable
achievement of Japan, a country that was despised before the
Second World War because of its low quality products. Today,
Japan admittedly with the help of the west initially has
emerged with a buoyant economy that is fast becoming a
threat to the Western economy“. The secret of Japan’s
development is her culture. He concluded by suggesting that
Nigeria and I will also say Amo land should take a cue from
Japan and go into “close door policy” to produce and utilize
resources available in the country.
At a critical moment like this, it is
apposite to ask if the purpose of our existence as
apolitical community is served. Over four decades after we
celebrated the transition from colonialism with so much
fanfare, we remain fractioned and divided as ever by the
primordialism of sectionalism, regionalism and religion. Our
land remains prostrate and dependent with many people living
in object poverty in a land that is otherwise so richly
blessed. The levels of hunger, disease, ignorance,
inequality unemployment and other indices of poverty have
worsened considerably and are simply unacceptable in Amo
land. The teeming thousands of unemployed youths are
veritable reserve army for recruitment into militant ethnic
militias and extremist religious fundamentalist groups.
In view of the above, we must be sensitive
than ever before in the quest for rebuilding our unity in
Amo land. In the words of Tafawa Balewa “Nigerians must
continue to think and act in terms of belonging to one and
only one Nigeria so that we could all succeed in our task of
nation building”. There is need for the establishment of
mutual respect and trust among all our regional groups and
to unite in working together for the common course of
rebuilding the unity of Amo land.
CORE VALUES FOR RE-BUILDING THE UNITY
OF AMO LAND (TIBO NWORU
KIMAP MUNUATI)
Amo land had three regions namely: Kitara, Kides and Kazuri (Runzu). However, amidst these regions there was unity in diversity as shown in the diagram below,
Kazuri (Runzu) C
B (Kides)
Even though, the unity of Amo land
has been distorted, this article attempt to provide the
following as core values for rebuilding the unity of the
land. Thus;
1.
REMOVAL OF REGIONAL CLAN IDENTITIES AND SECTIONALISM
Regional and Clan chauvinism and
differences in sectional persuasions’ such as KITARA, KIDES
and KAZURI (RUNZU) have played a negative role in matters of
politics in Amo land from the past to the present. This
situation has continued to persist because the process of
evolution of Amo land as a single political entity has not
yet been fully embraced by the various regions and sections
in the land. Each regional political sub-unit still holds
strongly to its individual identity. Because of this, power
politics is now viewed or perceived as a contest between
rival regional groups rather than political parties.
In an environment where poverty is
widespread, access to political power in Amo land is seen as
an opportunity to enrich oneself or better the living
conditions of people from where such a leader comes from or
his or her immediate family.
This explains why there is uneven
development across the land in terms of employment
opportunities, construction and maintenance of roads and
social amenities such as electricity, water as well as
health and educational institutions.
In view of the above, there is the
need to sensitize the entire citizenry of Amo land towards
Amo consciousness and unity in order to forge the
development of the land. Therefore, we should all endeavor
to sustain unity in Amo land in all ramifications.
2.
IDENTIFICATION OF PSYCHOPHANTS
Sycophants are deadly personalities
that derive pleasures in causing disharmony within the
personal comfort of Amo people in general. If their
attitudes are unchecked in Amo land, they will continue to
dislocate, fractures and weakens the unity of the land and
even make the efforts of those who have the Amo interest at
heart in vain.
Even though, they are already
causing cold war among our elites, but permit me to say they
might even cause physical war in the land if they are
unchecked. This is because of their selfish desire to
extract money in the hands of our elites as easy and at all
cost.
In view of the above, the clarion
call to all Amo Elites is for them to be able to identify
and expose all the sycophants who flood the streets with
praises of the elites, they prostrate in hypocritical
reverence to our elites licking and kissing their guts. Yet
in their dungeons, they chant the uncharitable and
un-intelligent things about them.
3.
TRUE FORGIVENESS
Another factor that encouraged
hostility, suspicion and distrust among the various segments
of AMO LAND and thus limiting the possibilities of extensive
social integration and unity in Amo land is lack of true
forgiveness among some elites. Malice has climbed the walls
of the entire social structure including the sacrosanct
walls of religious institutions in the land.
Some elites have failed to acquire
the virtues of forgiven those who have done wrong against
them for quite a longtime. They continue to nurture and
nourish this enmity from generation to generation to their
children`s children thereby making unity and peaceful
co-existence unattainable and as a mirage in the land. This
is evident in the various Amo palies upon Amo palies
organized by the UGO KISSORO NAMAP, which yielded no
positive results.
Therefore, my passionate appeal to
this set of people in the land is to “let bygone be bygone”
and to also “allow the sleeping dog lie”, I also want to
call their attention to one of the holy books that said;
“God will forgive us our wrongs, when we forgive others”.
Hence, as we put on our sociological imagination caps, we
will realize that God’s forgiveness is conditional. So a
return to true forgiveness in totality is one of the means
in which we can cripple all the forces that fragments the
unity of Amo people for our brighter future.
4. Cooperation
A cooperative interaction occurs
when people act together to promote common interests or
achieve shared goals. For instance, members of a basket ball
teams pass to one another to achieve a common goal of
winning the game. Likewise, family members cooperate to
promote their interest as a family and students cooperate by
studying together for tests.
The above example has universal
applicability and gains even more currency in Amo Land where
dis-unity and back-biting receive unpretentious social
endorsement while genuine industry and righteousness get
scorn. Therefore, Amo people must act together to promote a
common interest or achieve shared goals for a positive
development in our father’s land.
For unity to be achieved in Amo
land, we must maintain a “razor-edged focus” by cooperating
with one another, even when responses were disappointing. We
should keep faith the Almighty God will “make our good
better, and our better, best”.
5.
JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAYThis is a key value because only
through commitment to justice and fair play can guarantee
harmonious and peaceful society.
6.
HONESTY AND IMPARTIALITY
We must show impartiality in terms
of employment opportunities, admissions into various
institutions of learning, appointment into public offices
and equal opportunities to contest in an election, and above
all equal opportunities to vote and be voted for, in an
election. Without family, regional and any other parochial
interest in the land will continue to increase.
There is no leadership that can be
successful if it is corrupt, deceitful or discriminatory. If
needs also be understood by our future leaders that power is
a trust from society and that its exercise demands
accountability. Consequently, accountability has both an
intrinsic worth and a restraining influence in that it
strength the resolve of leaders to act within the provisions
of law and etiquette.
7.
Self Denial
The self represents the sum total of
people’s conscious perception of their own identity as
distinct from other. The self is not a static phenomenon but
continues to develop and change throughout our lives. For
instance, as new statuses are occupied, old ones are
abandoned. A social identity is the total of all the
statuses that define an individual. The individual develops
and modifies a sense of the self as a result of social
interaction (Gecas, 1982).
Self-denial also requires emphasis.
This is particularly important in a situation where hedonism
and easy living have all but threatened the very existence
of high virtues such as sacrifice and abstinence.
It is pertinent to note that the
values required for re-building the unity of Amo land are no
doubt inconvenient and tantamount to self-inflicted
deprivation by the elite, who are used to easy life and
absence of a core morality. It has to be admitted that steps
towards realizing the ideals are hereby suggested to begin
immediately with a total ethical and self orientation in all
facets of our lands life.
In the words of Tafawa Balewa;
“Nigerians must continue to think and act in terms of
belonging to one and only one Nigeria so that we could all
succeed in our task of nation building”. There is need for
us to create a better understanding of our selves, to
establish mutual respect and trust among all our regional
(Kitara, Kedes and Kazuri (Runzu)) groups and to unite in
working together for the common course of re-building the
unity of Amo land.
The foundation which the new society
system would be build is unity of purpose and harmony with a
view to building a new Amo land whose value articulations
will transcend selfish and parochial identification. This
new Amo land will be liberated from the decadent ethics of
sectionalism, disunity and malice.
Recommendations
We must be committed to evolving Amo
land that would be regulated by a body of laws, which suits
the majority of Amo people in their everyday life.
The laws should be such that can
strengthen our culture, facilitate the orientation of the
way of life of the ordinary Amo man. This would constitute a
deliberate departure from an arrangement, which saps the
vitality of our culture causes the atomization of Amo land,
undermines the possibilities of integrating the land both
vertically and horizontally and creates a way of life which
suits all segments and regions of the land.
Establishment of an appropriate
framework for the positive mobilization and education of all
Amo people, towards economic recovery and development of all
the people in the land.
Inculcate in all the land, the value
and spirit of civic responsibility and commitment to social
justice through mobilization and harnessing of their
energies and human resources into productive uses.
Propagate the need to eschew all
vices in public life including dishonesty, disunity, malice
back biting, killings and religious bigotry.
Propagate the virtues of hard work,
honesty commitment to and promotion of Amo integration and
above all inculcate the virtues of patriotism and positive
participation in Amo affairs.
The recommendations suggested here
are not exhaustive but could serve as propellants to
repositioning Amo land for a better tomorrow where we would
live happily in an atmosphere of socio-economic and
political Eldorado amid Jocundity.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we cannot fail to
re-affirm that this work seeks to achieve an intellectual
framework for the realization of the core values for
rebuilding the unity of Amo land as outline above. Amo land
is once again, involved in the cyclical ritual of
introspection and self criticism. This is because of the
maladies which include, dis-unity caused by lack of true
forgiveness, regional and clan, identities, sectionalism,
lack of cooperation and self denial, lack of honesty and
impartiality above all attitudes of sycophants have all
contributed to the current state of Amo land’s
underdevelopment, despite the immense human and
material resources at her disposal.
My task was to correct wrong
impressions about works done by some people that we cannot
re-build the unity of Amo-land. That is exactly the
impression I tried to remove in this article. Now, Judge me
as you put on your sociological imagination cap. Ask
questions, argue, disagree, and criticize. However, I
challenge you not tear the article or refuse the ideas. It
reflects my opinion or someone’s opinion and level of
thought. May the Almighty God make our good, better and our
better best.
REFERENCES
Gboyega, A. (1987). Political Values
and Local Government Vision in Nigeria.
Lagos Malthouse Press.
Okadigbo, C. (1987) Power and
Leadership in Nigeria.
Enugu: Fourth Dimension
Onage, F. (1993). Nigeria The Way
Forward. Ibadan Spectrum.
Tukur, M and Tunji, O. (1971).
Nigeria in Search of a Viable Polity. Zaria.
Jos Journal of Social Issues. Volume 3, 1999. Published by Sociology
Department. University of Jos, Jos Nigeria.
Written by Mr. Jonathan Amos
Timbau.
B.Sc.,
M.Sc.Sociology. First Executive Secretary of AMONSA