Wow!! Chinedu (The Debater 2010) is on FeistyPen!! He has Jos on his mind!

Chinedu Chidi won the oratory competition (Debaters 2010) organised by the Inspire Africa Project founded by the hit TV Talk show host Mo Abudu. He loves the great work !FeistyPen! is doing and agreed to lend his voice to the disheartening trend of killings in Jos and other parts of the country. Read what Chinedu has to say.

IN DEFENCE OF THE TRUTH; FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANITY

These are desperate times in our collective existence. I dare say that the disturbing happenings in our polity readily reveal that Nigeria is experiencing a crisis of security occasioned not only by a crisis of political identity but also a crisis of human identity and the burden of social contradictions.

 The misdirecting force of a brand of religious loyalty at variance with the cardinal principles of the natural order, the inordinate quest for material ascendancy and the volatility of the primordial lust for monopoly with a flagrant distaste for orderly competition have all combined to put the country in this state of emergency. Simply put Nigeria typifies a unit strained by the consequent violence of moral crisis.

The pogrom from ethno-religious conflicts and the spate of bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, violent robbery and ritual killings all amplify age-long notable questions about the nature of our being. Is Nigeria a nation or merely a state of contending nations?

Have the majority of Nigerians shown sufficient dissatisfaction having historically been denied their natural right to equity and the legitimate gains of citizenship by a small but adventurous class conquered by the dark lusts of their lower nature?

Considering Nigeria's widespread decrepitude and startling rot, isn't Nigeria in a state of development emergency? In the light of Nigeria's chequered history marked by bad leadership, shouldn't the collective pursuit of radically ingenious and principled leadership be embraced as non-negotiable?

Discrepancy between our religion and the practice of it

Does the crisis of religious intolerance not spite our reputation of a devout nation and reveal the striking contrast between our practice and the true essence of religion which is the moral regulation of man's fallen nature for higher existence, with the consequence of tranquil and prosperous social order? Doesn't our culpability in varying degrees of lawlessness show our growing amenability to both latent and potent nihilism?

Heightened social consciousness

My contemplations on the realities of Nigeria have heightened my consciousness of our true nature and defined my perspective of the direction of our country, challenging my prior conceptions rooted in a false sense of reality born out of the desperate cling on the soothing appeal of imaginary safety. What solemn reflection has taught me is that to live in denial of reality is to shed the empowerment from a cardinal possession of higher humanity--reason--and the extended awareness of the potential for significant intervention.

The surest trajectory to social balance begins with social awareness. As we reflect on the crises of our dear country, let us remember that our society bears the marks of our existence. We collectively define our country by our actions and inactions. We must hold dear the truth that we will not only be judged by history but by the light of conscience, the mold of society and irrepressible wind of providence!

The wrongful use of sectional identities

As the vengeful killings continue in Jos and Borno, I continue to mourn. I believe that at the root of this crisis is the failure to define others by our common and supreme identity--HUMANITY. Ethno-religious, political, cultural and sectional shades are secondary identities and they have immense potential for either good or evil.

Taken as the core of human definition, they possess great volatility, but under the light of conscience and the compass of reason, they lose their dark potential and occupy their rightful place as subordinates to humanity.

True Peace arises from an ordered mind

Despite heavy security presence, the crisis continues in Jos. This is because the crisis originates from a faulty internal reality. External order may be restored,  but ultimately the crisis will be RESOLVED not by the interventive  instruments of state. For true peace cannot be enforced; it only arises from the order of the mind drawn from the stability of conscience! The solution therefore lies in capitulating to our higher humanity.

The highest proof of humanity is to see one's priceless being in others!

Hook up with Chinedu on Facebook HERE and also find out about the The Debaters HERE