It takes a deep level of forgiveness to shake hands
with the killer of one’s father but Gabriel Ndutiye does
it – a couple of times every year.
He was 11 years old during the Rwandan genocide of
1994 that killed over a million people. He alone
survived, losing five brothers and both parents.
Although he can never forget, Gabriel has learnt to
respectfully co-exist with those responsible for the
killings.
Beyond forgiveness, Rwandans have been drilled with
acceptance and oneness – such that it has become a
part of them.
Fifty years after Nigeria got into a three-year civil war
occasioned by the wantaway south-east region
dubbed Biafra, the wounds have failed to heal and the
pus has yet again forced its way to the pores’ surface
– demanding attention.
THE TRICKY BUSINESS OF FORGIVENESS
“When you come to Rwanda, you can’t think
something like that [genocide] happened. And that’s
because of reconciliation…. but it’s still in our hearts,”
said Ndutiye, a tourist service chauffeur.
Ndutiye admitted that while reconciliation is possible,
forgetting is herculean.
Nowadays, he shares drinks with the perpetrators of
the acts because he has accepted what happened,
forgiven all involved and has resolved to be a team
player in the growth of Rwanda.
But one day, he will share the painful memories with
his children, who are too young at the moment to be
told.
“I have to tell them,” he said.
What Nigeria can learn: Forgiveness is possible and it
takes nothing away from remembrance. Quit notices
and threats to secede cannot be successful without
bloodshed.
‘WE ARE RWANDANS’ AND KAGAME’S SPEECH
Nowadays in Rwanda, there are no Tutsis, Hutus or
Twas. Everyone is a Rwandan and citizens appear
determined to have it that way.
Paul Kagame’s speech of July 19, 1994, was among
the catalysts for that united resolve to forge ahead in
unison.
“If we look at what we have gone through and where
we are heading, I feel that no one should deceive
themselves by saying that we have completed the
task and can now sit back and think that the problems
are over,” the speech read in part.
At the time, then major general Kagame was vice
president of Rwanda.
What Nigeria can learn: A bold leader uttering much-
needed blunt truths regardless of whose ox is gored
should be encouraged and embraced, not castigated.
REMEMBER, UNITE, RENEW
In universities and secondary schools, young
Rwandans are taught to fight the genocide ideology
such that they never forget what it cost to put tribe
above nationality.
Genocide memorial centres are strategically positioned
around the country for people to visit and remember
the past and build on their progress.
“For me, I feel blessed because I got to learn about my
country’s past,” said Iradukunda Diane, a student of
College St Jean, Nyarusange.
Diane – whose mother lost a sister – had come with
other students to pay respects and learn about the
past at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
Yearly, between April and July, the entire nation
observes what is called ‘100 days of remembrance’ –
and everyone participates.
Around Kigali, thousands of banners bearing the same
message hang visibly.
“Remember, unite, renew (Fight genocide ideology –
build on our progress). Kwibuka Twiyubuka,” they all
read.
What Nigeria can learn: Remembrance centres of the
civil war deserve to be constructed and the history of
the events should be taught across the country.
Political elites should abandon the gospel of
divisionism while the government should kickstart a
‘conversation’ on restructuring and referendum.
BUILDING AND REBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
The infrastructure that has been put in place in
Rwanda since 1994 is impressive, considering the fact
that it’s taken other African nations much longer to
develop.
Another portion of that Kagame’s 1994 speech read: “I
think it is time for all of us to stand up and work
together, as we did in the past in order to reach the
point at which we are now, when we are establishing a
government in the hope that it will lead this country
along the path of its development.
“A path that will bring Rwandans together, so that the
country can once again become for Rwandans, with all
their liberties, and feel that no Rwandan has the right
to deprive other Rwandans of their rights.”
Although the government seeks to revert to the master
plan of the country, the people are being consulted,
compensation is being awarded and replacement is
provided before relocation is carried out.
There’s a saying in the country that ‘When it is said in
Rwanda, it is done’ – which means the government
and elected officials are trusted to fulfil their promise to
the people.
Kigali and most parts of Rwanda enjoy stable power
supply from different sources while the higher
institutions in the country are now 40 from the three
the entire country had after the genocide.
What Nigeria can learn: Infrastructure should be
prioritised by all state governments if they are truly
sincere about development. And power should have
multiple sources for it to be stable and reliable.
YOUNG POWER AND ‘POWER TO THE WOMEN’
Before the genocide, Rwandan leaders were preaching
divisionism but afterwards, the new leaders rallied
round to create unity and invest in young people.
Unlike Nigeria, the young hold sway in Rwanda.
Many top positions and important roles are being
played by Rwandans in their 20s-40s.
That is perhaps helped by the fact that half of all
Rwandans are under 20 while nearly three-quarters
are under 30.
Rwanda can also boast of an almost equal women
representation in government – the best in Africa. And
it was achieved within a short time.
The country’s women hold 64% of parliament seats
and 39% of ministerial positions.
What Nigeria can learn: Time immemorial sentiments
about women in power should be discarded and there
should be several seats on the table for them while the
armour of patriarchy destroyed. The youth, if not given
an opportunity, will never be able to show what they
can achieve.
ALMOST EVERY RWANDAN LOST SOMEONE
“Did you lose someone?”… “Who did you lose to the
genocide?”
Charles Borromeo heard the first time but stared for a
moment before muttering, “a lot of them… almost
nine,” in a manner that suggested the question was an
understatement in itself.
And it was. Because almost everyone in Rwanda lost a
family member or friend in the genocide.
Borromeo whose picture hangs in the Genocide
Memorial Centre in Kigali – where more than 250,000
corpses were buried – lost nine people in the
genocide.
His wanting mathematics acumen served as his
saviour when the killers came for his family. He was at
an aunt’s place, observing lessons.
Dealing with the loss, Charles says, “is not easy” but
the realisation that he is not alone has helped him
thus far.
He has three children one of which was adopted
because he was keen to help reduce the ripple effects
of the genocide – in the little way he can.
“Who am I to be alive?” he asks. “I’m so blessed to be
alive at this moment.”
What Nigeria can learn: If indeed the federal
government wants the south-east to feel included in
the Nigerian setup, the Biafra war, which affected most
Igbo, should stop getting swept under the carpet of
deliberate forgetfulness.
TheCable
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