It is necessary that Nigerians be enlightened on the issue of equilibrium as a vital element in nation, building. Recently a critical stakeholder in the current government of Nigeria reminded Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari, as a Military General, walked a long distance and with much agony, from Eastern Nigeria to Cameroon, as a sacrifice to keep Nigeria one. A united and peaceful nation arising from such sacrifice should not be put asunder. That statement was meant to be an admonition to separatist agitators, as the great sacrifice made by gallant Nigerians must not be allowed to become a futile effort.
Equilibrium is defined as a balance between opposing forces or influences; a calm balance of emotions, attitudes, feelings, etc. Therefore, a vital element in governance and in the building of a stable nation is the task of creating a balance where no group would be oppressed, intimidated or reminded constantly about heavy burden of the past. In life’s tempests, like The Tempest of Shakespeare, there is always a Prospero who would teach that “the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance”. Similarly, “misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows”. We learn by experiencing.
Peace, stability and a satisfactory state of existence rarely come about unconditionally; rather, they come as products of astute management and balancing of opposing forces, influences, emotions, attitudes, feelings, demands, etc. But unfortunately, human governance, through abuses and wrong uses of power, often install a one-sided system, whereby threats and intimidation, rather than equilibrium, become instruments of compliance. Such system of governance, even while bearing the name of democracy, creates rooms not only for agitations, but corrupt practices too.
There is an inescapable fact of life, namely: that all humans are not equal, neither does everybody think alike or see things the same way. Such disparities arise from uses and negligences of personal free will, as well as the benefits which individuals derive from various experiences. We find that one-sidedness is against the stipulations which make for stability, because, that can bring about stagnation, disorder and corrupt system. We also find that some people can only become active, alert and resourceful through suffering and agonies.
What amounts to indulgence or permissiveness is a situation where indolent and negligent individuals are allowed to make demands on other people, without such indolent persons exerting themselves in responsible activities. Unfortunately there are individuals and groups who soon discover that they can use threats, intimidation, blusters and cunning to force others to serve them or give away their possessions by such acts of coercion. This is the beginning of brigandage, gangsterism and installation of a corrupt system of governance. When such system is allowed to take root, a society would, remain in danger, because, right is not determined might!
We also find situations where some individuals and groups, using apparently humanitarian gestures and acts of charity, do great sacrifices and favour to others in need and distress, only to remind such recipients time and again, of the sacrifices made for them. Thus humanitarian gestures and political gifts and donations become the means of holding poor and needy people to ransom, whereby perpetual enslavement becomes the ulterior motive for doing good deeds. This is not only a form of blackmail, but it is the common strategy which politicians use to trade and bargain in power. Must such practice continue?
Negotiation in political activity should not be a means of reminding any group of sacrifices made for them and political benefits and gifts that must hang on their necks like the sword of Damocles. Late Nelson Mandella of South Africa did not remind his people to eulogise him eternally for his long walk into and out of prison, neither did he insist for a second tenure in office as president. The distinctive feature of greatness in man is to give for the well-being of humanity, without throwing back such gesture to humans as a debt to be paid eternally.
The concept of equilibrium also includes the volition on the part of those who have much to offer for the good of mankind, to plant the seed of human up-building in silence, without seeking for recognition. One of the serious pains any Nigerian can have is the recognition of the level of obtuseness prevailing in the country currently. Politicians in their clever exploits have taken undue advantage of the ignorance and hollowness of the masses, to practise their trade which involves primitive acquisition. That a majority of Nigerians are unaware of the true face of politics accounts for the acceptance of in equilibrium as a norm. Surely humans operate on various waves of consciousness whereby the mean standard of the masses becomes the national average.
The process of bringing about a balance between diversities of mindsets, influences, attitudes, aspirations and expectations, is the hallmark of responsible politics, which we rarely have. Such talk is never an easy one, involving just negotiations and allocations of national resources to bring about best results. In a situation where negotiations and resource allocations assume unjust and corrupt tendencies, including intimidation, it becomes difficult to have an equilibrium in the true sense and meaning of the word. Equilibrium entails equity, justice and open dealing.
A reference to President Buhari taking a hazardous walk from South-Eastern Nigeria to Cameroon for the sake of Nigeria, is not only an allusion to an act of heroism but also what power is capable of doing. Shakespeare in Measure for measure would remind us that “it is excellent to have a giant’s strength, but it’s tyrannous to use it like a giant”. Principles of equilibrium in the practice of politics would surely include giving a listening ear to separatist agitators rather than make reference to the great walk of a hero. Surely, situations in various parts of the country demand some dialogues and negotiations, not intimidations.
Wherever the principles of equilibrium are constantly pushed aside in political arrangements, the possibility is that a one-sided system installed in the past would be responsible for such resistance. Evidence of such resistance came to light with the pushing aside of the effort of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to reposition Nigeria, despite the huge expense involved in that national conference. Similarly, there have been several clever efforts to undermine any genuine restructuring of the country, which would obviously involve some process of equilibrium.
Peace, unity and stability of any nation must always derive from social justice which equilibrium can bring about. Helder Camara would remind us that “Injustice, wherever it occurs, is a form of violence a leading form of violence”. Anybody taking a walk to Cameroon would do well to visit the palm beaches of Kribi and Limbe in the South, and then the North where drought and hunger make life hard and brutish. A long walk can be a good physical exercise and an opportunity to experience the wide disparities in living conditions.

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.