GENDER AND PEACE BUILDING

A Paper Presentation on Gender and Peace Building by Pastor Yohanna Y.D. Buru at the Northern Peace Summit Held at Arewa House, Kaduna, On Thursday, 10^th January, 2013

INTRODUCTION

        For us to have a proper understanding of what gender and peace building is all about and the contributions of both genders to peace building, we need to know what gender is, what peace means and what it means to build. This way, we can delve into what gender and peace building stands for, in the context of northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.

GENDER

        According to Odhams Dictionary of the English Language illustrated, gender is a grammatical classification of nouns and pronouns sometimes corresponding to that of sex. While the Manpower Oxford Dictionary, special edition defines gender as a grammatical classification (or no of classes) roughly corresponding to two sexes and sexlessness.

          These are definition from two dictionaries of English Language that summarily define gender as two sexes or sexlessness.

PEACE

          The Funk and Wagnalls New Practical Standard Dictionary defines peace as a state of quite or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm or repose. It also specifically means absence or cessation of war, general order and tranquility; freedom from riot or violence. A state of reconciliation after strife or enmity; peaceable or friendly relations; agreement’ accord’ concord. It is freedom from mental agitation or anxiety and a spiritual content.

          With this definition of peace, we can identity so many challenges that we are facing in northern Nigeria especially socially, politically, environmentally, economically, religiously etc. because of lack of peace in these aspects. We are faced with the opposite of the above definition of peace whether as Christians or Muslims, males and females. The challenges may be tribal, ethnical, regional and national.

         

BUILDING

        Building according to the Funk and Wagnals New Practical Standard Dictionary means an edifice for any use; the occupation, business  or art of constructing; or the act of or process of erecting or establishing.

          It is necessary for us to combine these three key words in order to lay a solid foundation on this subject matter, for proper understanding and for our benefits in restoring peace in every aspect of our lives.

          What we are trying to say is that let both genders contribute their quota in bringing general order and tranquility in our environment where there is no freedom from riot or violence, by putting to an end to enmity for friendship. Let us put our hands together in constructing peace based on the grace that God has given, no matter our gender.

GOD’S ORIGINA PLAN FOR MANKIND TO ENJOY PEACE

          From the biblical and historical perspectives, it is clear that God had an original plan for man and woman to live and enjoy peace on earth, but the reverse is the case today. We see the Bible’s narration concerning Adam’s and Eve’s life in the Garden of Eden that it was that of total peace and harmony until the fall. Both man and woman never experience war or disturbance whether environmentally, socially, economically, politically or religiously until they both disobeyed God.

          These are evidential in both scriptures – the Holy Bible and the Glorious Quran, i.e the teaching of Christianity and Islam believed by both Christians and Muslims, but why is it that the reverse is the case today in the lives of practitioners of both faiths? This is because man and woman chose to distort God’s ordained peace for human race by breaking or disobeying God’s law or commandment, and choosing a wrong path out of selfishness and pride. This had originally let to the chaotic situation that the north and the country as a whole has found itself in. the question is, why should you and I, as men and women choose this path of lack of peace and suffering the consequences of our actions today and are leaving behind posterity, which is an evil legacy for the younger generation who will never forgive us for our actions.

          From the history of the world, the cause of man or woman’s disobedience ushered in varieties of trouble like wars, physical and spiritual disasters that uncountable liver were lost. Coming to the context of northern Nigeria, we have seen tribal crisis like the Hausa Fulani and the Adara people in Kasuwan Magani of 1980, the Kafanchan religious riot of 1987, the Zangon Kataf crisis of 1992, Kaduna shari’a crisis of 2000. What about the Jukun and Tiv crisis in the present Taraba and Benue State? What about the Mai tatsina crisis in Kano, Jimeta, former Gongola state and in Kaduna state from 1980 to 1983? What about the Fulanis and farmers’ clashes etc.

          All these are end result of our choice to rebel against God which is the nemesis of rebellious.

THE PROBLEM OF PEACE BUILDING

          It is fact that it is easier to destroy than to build. Nut no man and woman, it is only easy to say but not to heed to.

          It is a reality that peace building is not easy but it is easy to spark a war or disturbance. But to extinguish flames of crisis and war is a world apart or something that can take a lifetime to quench its flame.

          There are so many reasons why peace building is a problem of its own. But by God’s grace, we can build peace, even a sustainable peace. The reasons why we face problems in peace building are: -

1.   Our humanity or fallen nature,

2.   It has to do with the substance of pride in us,

3.   It has to do with our selfish interest,

4.   Our choice of not being peace makers or peace lovers,

5.   Joblessness, poverty and economical factor can be a problem,

6.   Our failure to acknowledge the problem the way it is by tracing the root cause of the problem,

7.   Our lack of commitment, dedication and sacrifice for peace building,

8.   Our shallow knowledge and understanding in identifying the problem can be a problem,

9.   Our turning or rebelling against constituted authorities can breach peace and above all

10. Or training against our religious faiths or dictates or        against our religious teaching is cardinal in the problem of peace building.

One of the major problems in peace building is that men are perceived as the only ones saddled with the responsibility of building peace. Women are also created by God to contribute to peace building and not destruction alone. If we allow only men, our peace building will be one-sided, but if we combine the effort of both men and women in building peace, we will build a solid foundation of peace for our enjoyment and generations after us.

          But if men and women inculcate their religious teaching and totally surrender to God, they will discover that they are God’s instruments of peace building. And northern Nigeria and Nigeria will not only enjoy peace but extend peace to their nations of the world.

THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION IN PEACE BUILDING

          The great philosopher Kari Marx said the “Religion is the opium of the masses”. In agreement to what this great philosopher had said, we must all admit that religion in the past and present, if not in the future, is one of the best, strongest and the most useful instrument that can be used positively or negatively in peace building or peace dissolution. That is to say, both men and women are used positively and negative in influencing peace building or destruction of peace.

          Therefore, in the positive influence of religion in peace building, we must bring in both male and female religious leaders and teachers. We must allow male and female religious leaders or teachers to preach and teach religious truths to followers of both faiths and religious leaders or teachers must encourage followers to live exemplary lives of their religious teaching. By so doing, positive peace building will be easy and we will all live peacefully. This will certainly be so because of proper communication of religious truths to people.

          The negative influence of religion in peace building is rooted on false, incitive and destructive teachings, wrong interpretations of the scriptures (i.e our Holy books), wrong application of the word and shallow knowledge of the Holy books, selfishness and religious extremism.

          But if every male or female will lean or depend on the positive influence of religion in peace building, then our wall of peace will not only be strong but will be firmly fixed sustainably. And this can only be possible if both men and women will join hands in the process of peace building.

JUSTICE AND ITS IMPACT ON GENDER AND PEACE BUILDING
          Justice is very essential to gender equality or fair treatment between the two gender. Even if there is no equality, there must be fairness, religion is the powerful instrument that can bring justice to all. And justice is a necessity to peace building, even a concrete and lasting peace.

          If there is no justice in the society, both genders will suffer and there will be a failed peace building process. If women are treated fairly or with justice men, they will their input in peace building. Justice to all is the solid foundation to peace building. Justice to every aspect of human life and to both genders is the motivating factor to all peace.

          If there is no justice in the society, both genders will suffer and there will be a failed peace building process. If women are treated fairly or with justice by men, they will give their input in peace building. Justice to all is the solid foundation to peace building. Justice to every aspect of human life and to both genders is the motivating factor to all for peace building. Every form of justice that is given to both genders is the heart of peace building in every society.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF BOTH GENDERS IN PACE BUILDING

          Like we have earlier stated, everybody can be an instrument of peace in the society whether a male or a female. Every male or female, whether educated or uneducated, rich or poor, young or old religious or irreligious, must acknowledge that they are so blessed with the potentials to contribute tremendously towards peace building whether a Muslim or Christian. But the problem is this, those who claim to be religious are the ones destroying peace in the society instead of building it. Why?

          Which gender suffers more when there are crisis and uprising? Who are those who are left to be widows? The women. For this reason, not men alone but the women should be at the fore front in the struggle for peace by starting to build peace within the home front and their families, including moral and religious values of peace in their children wherever that may find themselves.

NGOS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE BUILDING

          Most Non Governmental Organizations we know are gender sensitive and are both powerful and influential. Whether directly or indirectly, they can be great contributors to peace building. Let these NGOs team up together whether they are religious or non-religious and contribute sacrificially to peace building because without peace, they cannot stand. It is true that some Non Governmental Organizations have been contributing to peace building, but it is now time for NGOs to put their heads together towards contributing immensely to peace building, for our peace is our survival, our peace is our progress, our peace is our blessing, our peace is our unity, success and victory.

          Therefore, no matter how small or big your contribution to peace building is, it is highly welcomed and with this, we will all coexist together in love, peace, harmony and mutual understanding.