NAN-ELS-1
Tolerance
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, July 28, 2017 (NAN) A renowned poet, Ahmed Maiwada, says his latest poem titled “We are Fish’’ is to promote peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, Maiwada said Nigeria was blessed with many ethnic and religious groups.
He said Nigerians should, therefore, unite, love and tolerate each other to enhance peaceful coexistence.
“I want to draw attention to the fact that because we are different does not mean we are enemies; let us stop seeing our differences as threats to peaceful coexistence.
“My poem, `we are Fish’, is about the journey of fishes which buttresses the life and survival instinct relating to the realities facing humanity that necessitates peaceful coexistence.
“It emphasises the fact that people have lost their humanity and now behave like fish.
“From my own observation of some human activities in Nigeria, Kandahar, Iraq, Syria, America and many other places, I discovered that human beings have lost their minds and humanity,” the poet said.
Maiwada said that someone with human feelings was expected to be sympathetic, agreeable and nice.
“My family is mixed; we have those practicing Islam and others Christianity; my grandfather is a Moslem, but my father was taken to school by the missionaries and became a Christian.
“During his wedding, all the family members practicing Islam attended his wedding; they followed him to church and prayed with him.
“But now, human beings have lost their humanity. I want to appeal to us to please stop all these threats, counter-threats, Hausa and Fulani herdsmen conflicts and all that,’’ Maiwada said.
Maiwada stressed that misunderstandings, misconceptions and misinterpretations were common features that inevitably characterised human existence.
According to the poet, there is nothing at stake in this life, adding that “you only come into this world to play your part and when your time is up, you go.’’
NAN reports that Maiwada, who is also the author of Saint of a Woman (2004), Fossils (2008), Eye Rymes (2013) and Musdoki (2010) ,is also a lawyer in Abuja. (NAN)
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