It is often said that, "To err is human and to forgive is divine." To forgive simply means to "Let go of wrong or offence done against you at one time or the other"

According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, "Forgiveness is the act of avoiding being angry willingly to somebody"

There are times in our lives when, regardless of the magnitude of the offence, we are expected to just let go and move on, rather than nurse a grudge against someone.

It is a process that requires one to make decisions, and the conscious decision is followed by an act of will. Until one makes up his mind to forgive, the mind will not be at peace.

It is no surprise, however, that Nigeria, which used to be peaceful, is now battling with insecurity.

Today, the unity we once enjoyed is no longer there, and this is one of our biggest problems as a nation.

However, it is high time we got back to how things were before now, leaving aside religious and political sentiments.

Let us shun terrorism and embrace forgiveness, because it replaces wrong doing with goodness. It creates benevolence through goodwill and generosity.

The Boko Haram insurgency has placed the country in a bad light. While many believe the terrorist attacks have more to do with politics than religious fundalmentalism, those behind the bombings should remember that "united we stand; divided we fall".

We should not allow the pain of the past to become a permanent crutch in our lives. Let us realise that it is our responsibilities to heal ourselves, since nobody can do this for us.

To ensure a better Nigeria, let us learn how to forgive and move on.

Forgiveness results in one seeing the other as a brother, and with this, we can resurrect the love we used to have for our fellow countrymen.

Victims of the various bomb blasts should not think towards seeking revenge. This only complicates things.

Those responsible for the insecurity should also place the country’s interest over personal political ambitions.

The earlier they realised this, the better. A lot of things have been destroyed, but no time is too late for peace to reign.

I hope the country can return to the good old days when everything was working as they should.

Peter Salawu,
Federal Poly, Bida,
Niger State.

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