‘Peace through strength’: Soun’s new push – An analysis
Ben GEORGE
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“If someone says he doesn’t want to associate with you, what will you do! You move on,” Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III recently fires, while responding to a question during his last week townhall meeting at Anglican Grammar School Sabo Ogbomoso.
The monarch further boldly discloses that his efforts to forge peace and unity in the zone by convening a meeting of traditional rulers in the five local governments was met with some success as 21 of 24 leading Obas attended. He added however some of them accused him of holding an “illegal meeting” and followed it up with writing a petition against him to the government.
He made several other revelations about what he considered as drawing back unity and progress in Ogbomoso. He was blunt, his expositions were daring; they partly struck the heart of the chaos rifling Ogbomoso. Non-pretentious, non-diplomatically inclined, the Oba said it as he had found it. However, his laying bare the “truth” unabashedly and brazenly is discomfiting to many, making him a butt of vitriol attacks especially on social media.
But compare his artless outburst to that of President Donald Trump of the United States of America in one of his remarks on the Iran – Israel War which had entered a ceasefire session. Trump had said: “I think it’s time for a deal,” and then added, “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we are going to see what happens.” At another forum, Trump stated, “Peace through strength.” This is a concept believed by America that dictates largely its foreign policy. His sayings emphasize that wars, clashes are prelude to peace. Conflicts that come into the open help every party to realise their “level” and to reflect and re-assess true picture of their position. When emotion is inflamed, anger rises, “fights” make them burn out and a clearer mind and picture set in. But when you prevent fight, the edges of friction linger, the controversies simmer. So, peace can come through conflict.
Moreover, the Bible says, “…The truth shall set us free.” There comes a point when saying the truth (as it occurs to one) will be the turning point for the achievement of lasting peace. When mediators know the “whole truth,” the redemptive path is quickly approached than fearing to unfurl the truth or one is locked in perambulation.
I think that is the path the Soun has taken by laying it bare, the roots of the feuds in Ogbomoso, from his own point of view, the basis of which is traditional rivalry in terms of superiority. There is also the problem of identity. Soun has stated his own, let others speak out too, denying it or affirming it and why. Throwing expletives is lack of courage, such remarks as “That is not how to talk in public,” “He is bereft of tact,” “I am disappointed in him,” and others are simply meaningless. It’s persisting in the old pathway. It is the same old fashion of chasing shadow while sidestepping the substance. If you cannot let the world know your source of grievances I don’t think harassing the one that let the world know his source of grievances is the right thing to do. I commend Soun for his boldness and steadfastness. He re-emphasizes his lineage’s war DNA composition and the achievements of his forebears through the ages which catapulted the Soun throne beyond the ordinary today. Let others speak out too passionately instead of hurling invective. Oba Ghandi has moved on, l doubt if he gives heed to the tantrums? He underscores this when he drew a final conclusion, “If someone says he doesn’t want to associate with you, what will you do! You move on.”
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That is it, rather than being bogged down seeking unity and cooperation all the time, you move to show the world what you can do, the exploits you can wrought. Soun has explicitly decided he won’t wait for peace to be achieved before he pursues his dream for his domain. And interestingly, he is vantagely placed and positioned and have the wherewithal to notch his dream.
I align with this. Since l came of age what I have always heard in Ogbomoso is, “We need unity among our traditional rulers for progress and development.” The Chiefs Ladiji Abidemi Gbadamosis, Sunday Adewusis, Sheikh Asifa Sanusis, Rev’d Dr Ademola Isholas, Adebayo Alao-Akalas of this world made strenuous efforts upon strenuous efforts to broker peace all to no avail. If unity will not come, to hell with it, fuck it. Life must continue. What we should focus on is continuous development of our zone. We should focus on development, we should not focus on conflict or how to resolve conflict perpetually. We need unity, we need unity, such cliches should now be thrown overboard, let’s begin to deny unity too much respect. We disregard it and it fizzles out. Left, right, front, back, let each focus on development and growth, let’s “fight it out” on the basis of how much development we can muster, let’s compete on that plank. Soun says unequivocally that he had no mind to fight anyone, that his preoccupation is transformation of Ogbomoso zone, anyone willing to join the train or collaborate he underlines is welcome and anyone who feels otherwise can make independent thrust forward but sitting lamenting over an elusive unity he asserts is not something he imbibes. Let the rivalries be healthy based on the current achievements and realities, we should play down the glories attained by the ancestors and chart our own path and carve out our own niche going forward.
When you are able to showcase achievements and glory that is another way of achieving “peace through strength” because success ultimately provokes silence and muted admiration.
