By Eubaldus Enahoro
What is your understanding of the word PEACE. It is obvious that your definition of peace will no doubt differ from someone else, because of our varied perspective about life.
This is my definition. Peace is not the absence of quarrels; peace is not the absence of shouting, killings or trouble. It is the tranquility of the man’s soul. When you have peace in the inside, having peace in the outside will not be a problem. Therefore if we are seeking to have peace it must begin from the inside and we must crave for it.
For example, if everywhere is quiet and you are so ruffled in the inside, then it will be very difficult for you to manage peace. If on the other hand you are in the habit of disrupting the peace or peaceful co-existence of the people, then you must be up to some mischief.
The creator of all things, God almighty hates those who concoct mischief with a passion. The book of Proverbs 5:18 clearly states that,” an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief”.
It is no more news that there have been spate of criticism and verbal attacks by a select few politicians to disrupt the peace in Edo State. Their major aim no doubt is geared towards heating up the polity before the 2020 gubernatorial election which is about a year away.
From all indications what we are experiencing in the state is more or less a mirage to distract the government of Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Interestingly, one of the definitions of a mirage by the Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary, international students edition is a hope or wish that you cannot make happen because it is not realistic but an illusion.
A cursory analysis of the arguments of this clique of politicians is basically hinged on the facts that it is no more business of sharing the government money as usual. They no more have access to government free money, therefore the governor must go and should not be allowed to complete his two term tenure to enable him consolidate on the gains achieved so far in the last three years.
They have charged the political space with lots of comments and expression of words that are least expected from citizens of the state, especially from the same political family who have one time or the other benefited from the government.
Some political pundits are of the view that this is nothing new in actual fact because if they do not rake up imaginary claims, there will be no room for any bargaining.
But, what we expect is that this should not be allowed to interfere with the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in our dear state by creating a mirage, when the issues are not as bad as they want us to believe with the media hype.
The governor, Mr. Godwin Obseki, in his address to the muslim community at the government house, this week said he will not be distracted because the issues in the state are not really what they are, instead they are just been exagerated by very few politicians who are complaining. He promised that he will continue to take decisions for the greater number of Edo.
The governor’s expectation from the people is to guarantee him peace and pray as only God gives power. He further noted that all these are deliberate plan by few greedy people whose plan is to distract the government and he reiterated that the state’s money is for Edo people and not for few.
The governor who is not ignorant of the mischief of these set of politicians urge the people of the state to continue to pursue peace. With this statement from His Excellency one is tempted to recall what Jesus Christ said if you go into a house, you should say peace be unto this house. We must understand that Jesus is taking it for granted that as a child of God, we have peace within us because no man can give what they do not have.
However, if there are people who still do not believe in the peaceful co-existence with others but believe in mischief making to agitate for what they want then they should think twice and change their mindset by contributing to the progress of the state instead of seeking selfish interest.
We should understand that peace is only possible by the presence of God Almighty. If you believe in the creator of all flesh, the Alpha and Omega, you will not engage yourself in acts that will not promote peace.
Even across our nation today, one vital ingredient that we are lacking gradually is peace and we all know that without peace there can not be progress. The governments at the federal, state and local levels are striving to make life meaningful with the execution of projects, and provision of services for the people. But unfortunately it is sad that some people will be fueling an environment devoid of peace.
In Hebrew 12:14, the Bible clearly states that, “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. It says we should follow peace, it is very important that we pursue it, we should seek it, we should chase it, go after it. That is why the call by the governor for the people to pursue peace is very important.
Let us depart from mischief, do good works, seek peace and pursue it. One of the criteria that show that you are a child of God, irrespective of your religion is not the size of your Bible or Qu’ran, not your frequency in the house of worship. Yes, It is good to frequent the house of worship but one of the things that qualify you a child of God is the kind of peace that exudes in you, through you and by you. Your presence should bring peace to a place and not sorrow and confusion even if that is your trade mark as a politician.
We know that there are people who enjoy making people quarrel with each other, fight each other, use people’s head to hit each other and are happy when others are sad and mourning.
Such people can not be counted as children of God. A child of God sues for peace. In Matthew 5: 9 it says,” Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God. How can you be called a child of God or children of God when you cause mayhem, distroy people and cause sorrow, tears and blood?
It is time we change our ways and let peace reign in all aspects of our lives because the unprovoked senseless killings also going on in some parts of the country today must stop if peace must reign in the country.
We should be the initiator of peace and no right thinking person will mistake this option as a mark of weakness.
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Eubaldus Enahoro is Deputy Editor with the Nigerian Observer
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