National Issues
Rev. Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun (FADA DEO) Peace Concert: A Nation In Search of Peace -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi
. A victim in the sense of losing one of his Seminarians to kidnapping and banditry; fortunately and unfortunately, the popularity of the Peace Concert would have created room for a Post Peace Concert discussion; but unfortunately Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah missed the Peace Concert. Was the Peace Concert all about Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah? Was the Peace Concert all about Rev. Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun from Buffalo, New York? Was the Peace concert all about His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan?
- The attendance at the Peace concert organized by Rev. Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun on the 6th February, 2022 about some few days ago was a concert of high expectation. An expectation full of hope and enthusiasm. In attendance at the Peace Concert is the revered Cardinal and Prince of the Church, His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan. The much expected Peace concert took place at the Lady Kwali Hall Sheraton Hotel, Abuja with the expectation and presence of the renowned scholar and fearless Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. Unfortunately, from all indication Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah could not make it at the Lady Kwali Hall; and not for any reason, but the simple reason that we are in a Country were airlines will disappoint you and give you no alternative to fly even when you have an appointment that comes ones in an opportunity; and you can be rest assured that an opportunity gotten and lost will be difficult to get back.
- No doubt, the Peace Concert which was highly attended by few government officials and with the hope of the presence of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah would have given journalist a meal ticket for the day. Again, in anticipation to hear and listen to the keynote address of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the expected ovation that would have arisen in the Lady Kwali could have been another moment and opportunity to shake the very foundations of this government that has made peace in Nigeria most times elusive. It is usual for the spokespersons of the Presidency to have put on their thinking cap expecting to readily be in defense of their Principal in a manner that would have kept the polity to another open and closed discussion of the almost failure of this government as perceived by some.
- One would have pre-empted what Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah would have said in his Keynote address as one who has been a victim of the current ills of the society. A victim in the sense of losing one of his Seminarians to kidnapping and banditry; fortunately and unfortunately, the popularity of the Peace Concert would have created room for a Post Peace Concert discussion; but unfortunately Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah missed the Peace Concert. Was the Peace Concert all about Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah? Was the Peace Concert all about Rev. Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun from Buffalo, New York? Was the Peace concert all about His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan? The Peace Concert was all about Peace in Nigeria; and by extension, Peace in Africa and the World.
- There is no better moment and time than now to organize such a Peace Concert in Nigeria; it is timely and imperative. This is not for any reason; but for the fact that it is very much difficult to have peaceful elections in Nigeria. One would have expected that Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun organized such Peace Concert in faraway Buffalo, New York in the United States. Yet, he chooses to spend his time and resource to organize such concert in Nigeria; this indeed is a very significant step and appreciated by the Nigerian people in search of peace.
- It reminds me of the Theology of the Incarnation; God would have not wasted his time and energy to come down and save humanity. How could he (God) come down from His High Majestic Heavens just to save humanity? God would have just remained in heaven and declared that we are saved and keep his Divinity so as not to mess up His Divinity on the Cross through human nature. Nonetheless, he (God) still came down; Fr. Daniel came down to Nigeria to execute his Peace Concert when he could just go virtual and we watch on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and stream live. Fr. Daniel did this not for any reason but for the simple reason that Nigeria is too significant to be taken for granted.
- The significance and believe in a Country where millions of people especially the youths have lost their lives in the search for peace and progress of Nigeria is worth coming to Nigeria to execute such Peace Concert. Fr. Daniel did not remain in his high horse just as God did not remain in heaven to save humanity. He (Fr. Daniel) came down to his fatherland where he was born so as to spread the gospel of peace through music. Fr. Daniel believes in Nigeria and also believes in the possibility of Nigeria to be a One United Country. He (Fr. Daniel) is very sure that the Youths of Nigeria have no regrets been Nigerians. It would have been unrealistic should Fr. Daniel had done this music concert in faraway America. This indeed would have sent a wrong signal as he would not have understood the Nigerian condition better than those who live in Nigeria. Yet, because he (Fr. Daniel) needed to understand the human condition in Nigeria just as God understood and understands the human condition that was why he came down to save the human condition and I believe the music concert for Peace as organized by this great priest of God can help save Nigeria from its present predicament and woes.
- During his speech, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, tasked everyone to constantly see peace as a task and a gift from God. Although, the Cardinal Archbishop who himself is a scholar understands the dynamics of the concept Peace. He made it very clear in categorical terms that there can be no peace without Justice and Fairness. In a society (Nigeria) were we find ourselves in almost a hopeless situation and as seen in other countries and the world; it is definitely true that peace cannot be achieved without justice and fairness. This is very much understandably true because Peace does not work on two legs. Human beings have to push for it so it can be realized. Should a husband (wife) deserve peace in their home there is a need for fair treatment; should a State expect peace then there should be justice and fairness; should a country expect peace then the state actors must do the needful. Yet, the question is, how peaceful will this peace be when there can be no peace without conflict?
- Nonetheless, peace and conflict is a social science field that identifies and analyses violent and nonviolent behaviours as well as the structural mechanisms attending conflicts, with a view towards understanding those processes which lead to a more desirable human condition. It was Cardinal Joseph Leon Suenens who was once asked if the world can be humanized without been evangelized; and he answered thus: to be evangelized is to be humanized. As such, the gospel values have all it takes to establish those processes which can lead to a more desirable human condition. Every religion in world preaches peace; but at the same time religions in the world have their approach and methods in arriving at this peace. The question is, whether this peace is achievable in this world calls for serious concern. Nonetheless, we must work towards it anyway.
- In conclusion, the Peace Concert should send a signal to all and sundry as we begin the election year. Politicians should sacrifice their personal ambition and work towards a peaceful electoral process. One way in which the Nigerian government can reduce conflict so as to begin a process of peace is to give us an election we just sit in our houses and vote using our phones and laptops. This will create an atmosphere of peace as no one will be on the streets to hijack ballot boxes; just as no one will use my phone to rig elections. Let us have a peaceful election and campaign so that Nigerians can genuinely choose their leaders to achieve peace and progress.
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