Peace Paradigm for Nigeria and its Co-Existence

Abstract

Every society needs peace to preserve its environment and cultural heritage, as well as its collective existence as a nation or country, whichever way it is best described or depicted. Peace is a sine qua non for progress and development. It is the function of all those concerned to promote its success, especially in a multi-cultural and pluri-religious society like Nigeria. This means that even the language of communication between peoples of such a cultural heritage must be geared towards a harmonious living. Failure to give peace a chance in such a polity might lead to chaos and anarchy. It is the aim of this paper therefore to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the modus operandi of preserving the Nigerian society through a healthy promotion of its language, culture, and environment by proposing the need for PEACE in the polity as a paradigm for its success.

The paper is a reflective contribution towards the promotion of mutual co-existence in Nigeria based on some suggested principles of peace. The threat posed by Boko Haram – a dreaded Islamic fundamentalist sect – to the corporate existence of Nigeria since July 2009 is one of the clearest indications for the urgent need for peace in the country as a nation.