Monday, 25 November 2024

DIVERSITY: SUPPORTED BY INDIGENOUS CULTURES OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Continuing from a previous publication, where the focus of discussion was the new trend of activities at the Monument of Traditional Nigerian Architecture (MOTNA), located inside the premises of National Museum Jos, this piece is compiled to strengthen the discourse.

Effort was made in the previous piece to present the new trend of activities at the MOTNA as a development template worthy of emulation, support and promotion. Suffice to say therefore, that this piece is tailored to endorse what was started previously. It is also compiled to bring out some lessons contained in the new wave of activities at the MOTNA, Jos, by the Ngas Nation, Plateau state, but most likely initiated by somebody who have not been properly credited, celebrated and promoted. This part of the narrative which needs to be properly explored is surely for another day.

Keen observers of events in Plateau state, especially, those conversant with the status of the state as the home of peace and Tourism, will understand why current activities at the MOTNA are considered fundamentally, a template for development. These observers were at a point deeply troubled by the spate of negative activities perpetrated by the fickle minded conflict merchants bent on destabilizing the state and destroying her status, but failed woefully. 

Such observers understand the role the initiator of the new wave of activities at the MOTNA, Jos is playing. They value the role and impact such is creating towards bridging existing gaps, building relationships and engagements routes and connecting people and communities, and bringing back or returning the glory of the state via cultural activities that have consistently showcased and promoted the fact that Plateau state values diversity and is receptive to it. The state is indeed the hub of diversity.

The objective minded understands vividly that diversity is natural, is common; put simply a way of life to the average man and woman of Plateau. Same can be said about the common Nigerian. To the average Plateau person, Nigerians generally, diversity is a unifying factor, major reason Nigerians are unbeatable.

The typical Nigerian will go to bed hungry and happy that he or she forfeited his or her food for a total stranger to eat. The real pain is when he or she does not have anything to offer a stranger… Same for other forms of assistance. 

If diversity, as portrayed above sounds strange to you, it is simply because the political elite class has socked, polluted and infected your mind with animosity and hatred. Your likes are in the minority. Diversity is not the problem of most Nigerians; the politicians are.

It is a fact that diversity as portrayed by the elite political class in Nigeria is by far removed from the impression of the masses. The now publicly proven non-productive elite politicians have consistently projected a false narrative about diversity in Nigeria. The impression they projected is the tool the idle, corrupt and fickle minded conflict merchants, parading as leaders and elite political class deploy consistently to cause mayhem, bloodletting and other ugly and untoward activities observed in the society.

The major reason the politicians indulge in the above is to keep the people divided, to make them unable to speak with one voice and make it extremely difficult for them to check their excesses as unresponsive, irresponsible and non-performing actors and actresses. Unfortunately for them, the people are tired of their antics and excess; hence the emergence of a new development template in Jos, Plateau state to showcase to the world the real understanding of diversity by Nigerians.

The new template as a child of necessity indicates strong will by the common people to work in unison. It provides opportunities for the rural communities to package, brand and project their diversity, uniqueness and highly admirable endowments collectively. It presents a platform for several communities to be known, and for their products and services to be celebrated and promoted as a collective effort. It is equally a route fir the communities to be massively encouraged, supported and patronized locally and globally by their lovers.

The new template is an audacious statement, a collective will and experience and therefore a movement by the common people: male and female, young and old, married and unmarried, formerly and not formerly educated. It is a move devoid of the influx, control and undue influence of the wasteful and now proven unproductive elite political class. It is a convincingly deliberate action of the common people to genuinely reposition their land by themselves as the true ambassadors and advocates.

Those interested in seeing real socio-economic changes, not white elephant projects are already attracted and coasting along joyfully with the train and in response to the trending and evolving community development strategic tool, instigated by the truly caring, genuine advocates and real community builders.

Step out; lend your voice, support the trending development platform... Please click the link below and read the previous publication:

Nnabugwu Chizoba

 

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