According to Timothy Keller,
tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you
to treat people who disagree with you. The ability to tolerate each other
defines how well individuals or groups can co-exist and enjoy peace.
The world is undergoing globalisation which is transforming
every society and exposing even the most indigenous of the cultures to
different ways of life. As this new interaction brings forth constructive
dialogues and intercultural exchanges, it also brings with it a wave of
inequality, poverty, movements of people and unending civil conflicts. People
are rejecting diversity as a weakness and opting for superiority classes and
exclusive politics.
Religions are waging wars on other religions in the name of spreading
their beliefs. To salvage the situation and to reduce the intolerance around
the globe, UNESCO established the International Day of Tolerance to be marked
globally every November 16.
The theme for year 2020 is:
“Tolerance is Respect, Acceptance, and Appreciation of the rich diversity of
our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human”.
This is geared towards creating awareness about accepting one
another for the reason that a place where leniency is undermined is always
characterised with many inhumane activities which at the tail end result to
retrogression, stagnation or under-development.
Among the areas where Nigeria experiences intolerance is
politics. Political intolerance has manifested in instability, inter and
intra-ethnic conflicts leading to loss of lives as well as the destruction of
private and public properties. Politics in this part of the world suggests that
the party in power takes all; no member of the opposition party is absorbed or
can become part of the winning party’s cabinet.
This also extends to abandoning of
programmes and policies initiated by opponents at the other side of the
political divide and introduction of new initiatives to replace the former. The
act does not foster development, rather it serves as a preamble to underdevelopment
and wastage of resources which are mostly insufficient.
According to Greg Boyle,
abject poverty, political instability, torture, and other abuses, push
thousands across our borders. There is not a deterrent imaginable that equals
the conditions that force their migration. In addition, the attitude of not
appreciating others of opposing political ideas results in entrusting sensitive
positions in the hands of incompetent allies, thereby encouraging mismanagement
of the common patrimony and subjecting the people to abject poverty.
That is where the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,
has shown remarkable accommodation for the opposition. In several briefings, he
had expressed his dislike for vindictive politics. To quote him: “Before politics
we were one people and after politics we will remain one people”.
And as he often admonishes, “if we kill
each other, who will we rule?” His government is the type that carries all
interests along. To confirm this, after his inauguration, Diri conducted an
all-inclusive budget planning process which involves the participation of
Bayelsans regardless of their party affiliations.
It is designed to ensure accountability and strong collaboration
by all stakeholders in stewarding our communal resources.” He noted that
citizens’ participation play a vital role of guaranteeing that resources are
apportioned sensibly and in accordance with shared vision and values, with a
view toward helping all citizens thrive and prosper in a sustainable manner”.
Having served as commissioner for youth and sports, deputy chief
of staff, principal executive secretary to the governor, member of the Federal
House of Representative and distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, Diri
obviously understands the challenges and where Bayelsa State ought to be. This
is evident in his not subscribing to playing politics of hate.
At a point where the state is making
effort to develop infrastructure, human resources and to diversify the economy
from being dependent on crude oil, all hands need to be on deck. All
stakeholders need to contribute their quota to steer the state towards
development.
At the inception of his administration, Diri extended and
continues to extend the olive branch to all aggrieved members, both within and
outside the party. In most cases, politicians who defect, because of shame or
considering what other party members may think about them, don’t easily take
the step of reviewing their decision. In this fix, Diri set up a delegation to
meet everyone involved to iron out the differences.
Those who have left the party due to some personal reasons, and
opponents who may want to key into his administration, christened “the
prosperity government”, are given opportunity. In his words: “Let us eschew
bitterness and acrimony and learn to love ourselves, whether of the same party
or of different parties.
Primarily, we are brothers and sisters from Bayelsa State.”
Being part of the founding fathers of the state, he has demonstrated
understanding of the components required to pilot the state to the Promised
Land where the dream of all Bayelsans will be realised.
Diri has shown he is a leader who cares about the feedback from
the people of the state as it is the only medium where perspectives of the
people will be brought to the fore. The issue of disconnection between the top
and the bottom in governance has been on the front burner.
Those in position seldom listen to the yearnings of the people
as they always perceive it as being masterminded by individuals from opposition
parties. Diri has proven that he is for everybody and he listens to the demands
of the people by making interventions in accordance with the observations of
people.
It is indicative of the nature of the man that he appointed
three of his opponents from the governorship primaries into various very senior
positions of trust in his government. He insists on looking at the content of
their capabilities and not their affiliations.
Whenever his administration has been unfairly criticised, he has
preached that tangible results should be used to dispel any contention. You
cannot argue with tangible results.
As Brian Cagneey has said: “To achieve great things you must
stretch your beliefs, your efforts, and your tolerance. You will have to face
new situations with an open mind, eager to reach your destiny.”
Senator Douye Diri has shown tremendous interest in
collaborating with others and accommodating the divergent views and factions in
his bid to bring the prosperity mantra of his administration to fruition.
Little wonder, he is recording such rapid progress to the destiny of making the
state “the Glory of all Lands”.
Nigeria News Paper Now
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