By Dada Ahmed.
A balm, according to Merriam Webster dictionary, is a soothing restorative agency with spicy aromatic odor and and a preparation (such as a healing ointment),applied to the wound.
Valentine’s day, popularly called lovers’ day, may not a be balm perse, the belief in many quarters is that l, time has come for humanity to come to terms with the idea of regarding the day as not only a balm to heel many wounds in Nigeria but essential one indeed in addition to its traditional connotation.
The reason is not farfetched, given the picture of social economic and polical events in the contemporary society, including Nigeria.
The economic quagmire and security challenges hitting the various sectors of the Nigerian economy notwithstanding, February 14, other wise known is one day many of its citizens,most especially youths; a critical segment of the population of any society, will not forget in a hurry in terms of merry making. The day provides avenue for love sharing and to further cement existing relationships among the people.
Though the history of the day revolves around one St. Valentine,whose love for humanity was misconstrued and made to pay a supreme price for his humane behaviour, the day has come be recognized,world wide, as lovers’ day.
Always associated with love in the air, it is also an ample opportunity for lovers to express alluring colour of their feelings towards one another and in some cases, some have leveraged on the opportunity of the global event to heal wounds emanating from hostile relationship, mending fences.
In order words, to many peace-loving individuals in the country,Valentine’s day can figuratively be referred to as an essential balm to heal wounds and a platform to mend fences with perceived enemies to ensure peace.
Therefore, relaxelation spots and recreational apartments are usually filled with excited individuals in ambient environment of vibrations with music, concerts and other social gatherings as youths troop to such places with great enthusiasm, not only to unwind, perhaps after a hard day’s job and forget worries but also to strengthen the bound of unity in a serene and cool atmosphere.
Beyond the age long and facial value of the lovers’day lies the imperative need of translating the philosophy of love as enshrined in the context of Valentine’s day in to human relationships where sympathy for the poor and empathy for the needy will have a pride of place.
This will go along way in closing the widening gap between the rich and the poor and check hatred,envy among others.
Given the many crises ravaging the corners of the world, some Nigerians are beginning to buy into they view that Valentine’s day should not just be regarded as a booster to social enterprise of operators of beer parlours and the likes but as a proverbial essential balm urgently needed to soothe disoriented minds for the country to emerge as an entity with people of one voice, one destiny
Invariably therefore,nothing should stop celebrators of the legendary lovers’ day to ponder on ways the nation can overcome its socio-economic and other problems and reconcil differences among its citizens of diverse cultures and traditions, to give peace a chance.
The likes of Pastor Micheal Alabi are of the opinion that the need for Nigerians to see Valentine’s day beyond beyond February 14 and a mere merry-making adventure should be stressed. He anchored his argument on the current social, economic, political challenges as well as insecurity in Nigeria threatening the cooperate existence of the country.
According to him,the experience of many Nigerians, especially the down troddened,can be likened to a troubled chicken, confronted with enormous challenges with torrential sweat enveloping its body, but due to its feather, outsiders cannot see the pain it is going through hence, conscious efforts must be made to help in finding lasting solution to its problems.
This view cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand as it typies pieces of empirical evidence of the crises humanity goes through drawing back the hand of the clock to reach the promise land of the desired developmnt in the scheme of things.
As the world wallows in the great in seemingly unabated political crises,economic dislocation and social instability with heightened insecurity, the resultant effect of such threatening developmnts remaing worrisome phenomenon to all lovers of peace globally.
Therefore, lovers would do the world and humanity proud by factoring into their agenda of the occasion by sharing thoughts on the possibility seeking better means of ensuring geniune love in all its ramifications and concrete reconciliation during Valentine’s day, a developmnt that should end with February 14,2022.
Parents are expected to be exemplary in their conduct by demonstrating love, even with the nuclear family setting while celebrating the day with their children, they owe it a duty to inculcate in them essence of expressing nnatural love to others in the society.
The idea of brother’s which is an instance of love should feature prominently during the activities marking the day and made to permeate relationships with neighbours, irrespective of religious, political,ethnic and other divisive expressions.
One other vital thing lovers of Valentine’s day should not shy away from, after the event, is the need for tolerance of each other’s views and put in place amicable means of settling grievances all of which bottle up to the current insecurity and stopping the country from attaining the desired atmosphere of tranquility.
By this, the world, particularly the third world, where Nigeria belongs, will breath air of freedom from wars and other problems taking humanity thousands of miles away from real peace and development.
As uncertainty in many spheres of human activities stare man, with no meaningful solution in sight, all eyes tend to look towards mind soothing occasion such as Valentine’ day, not only to serve as a respite to the traumatised minds but also a platform for people to thread the path of moral rectitude.
This is to usher in emergence of the old culture of live and let’s in peace, where a neighbour’s becomes our problem and relationship is devoid of ethnic consideration will be revived and made to play prominent role in our relationship with others.
In away, the belief is that, people should be able to use the lovers’ day to forge a mentally sound society to enable citizens develop the capacity to anticipate and appraise the effect of one’s actions, with a view to tracing dangerous steps,if any, in the journey enthroning the culture of oneness necessary for cordial relationship and peaceful coexistence.
When this is done with sincerity of purpose by all peace-loving individuals in every corner of the world, Nigeria inclusive, St. Valentine would be fulfilled in his grave, that he bequeathed to the world and mankind,the greatest and priceless gift to love and cherish one another in an absolute atmosphere of peace.
In all, the fact remains that Valentine’s day could be regarded as an essential balm,Nigeria and the world at large need as” a soothing restorative agency” to heel the wounds of the citizens to return the world to the path of peace and development.
As we click glasses of wine and give toast in commemoration of Valentine’s day today, we should also creat time think of the plight of victims of dark spots in Nigeria and the world at large, by remembering them in prayer and suggesting ways out of the problems because that is what love also entails.
Happy Valentine’s day to all and sundry.
Ahmed is a Journalist, member, Nigerian Guide of Editors(NGE), media consultant and social commentator.
