By Ohiri Paul Chidera,MPA
In the architecture of global politics, words are not mere vessels of expression; they are instruments of
consequence. Every utterance in the public square, especially in a nation as delicately plural as Nigeria, carries the potential to soothe or to shatter. In recent weeks, the Nigerian media space has been awash with impassioned commentaries and alarmist interpretations following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged warning to Nigeria—a development that, while intriguing, has become a magnet for reckless rhetoric and speculative diplomacy. It is within this cacophony that one must pause to remind our national discourse of an eternal truth: in statecraft, as in law, ignorantia non excusat—ignorance excuses no one.
International diplomacy is neither a village debate nor a digital shouting match; it is a coded language, spoken in gestures, pauses, and symbols. It is guided by the fine art of timing and the silent grammar of restraint. Those unversed in its lexicon must resist the temptation to interpret every foreign utterance as an affront or prophecy. When individuals lacking the rudiments of diplomatic literacy thrust themselves into the conversation with loud certainty and little substance, they imperil not only reason but also national stability. Nigeria, still healing from decades of ethno-religious suspicion, cannot afford a public sphere governed by impulse.
The danger lies not in disagreement, but in distortion. A single phrase, misread and amplified across social media, can mutate into political tinder. The fragility of perception in our age of instant outrage demands that we embrace reflection as a civic duty. Audi alteram partem—hear the other side—is not merely a legal maxim; it is a moral imperative in the management of public dialogue. Before we react, we must understand; before we pronounce, we must verify. Yet, in our haste for digital relevance, we have mistaken verbosity for vision and noise for knowledge.
Let it be said without equivocation: the interpretation of foreign diplomatic cues is not a sport for the emotionally impetuous. It requires the intellectual patience of a historian, the discretion of a jurist, and the empathy of a statesman. When political analysts, talk show hosts, and social commentators rush to frame every statement from Washington, Beijing, or Brussels as a direct challenge to Abuja, they inadvertently weaken Nigeria’s negotiating posture in the international system. We must remember the guiding wisdom of Cicero: Salus populi suprema lex esto—the welfare of the people shall be the highest law. What, then, becomes of our welfare when unguarded speech threatens to ignite the very divisions that diplomacy seeks to contain?
The media, as the conscience of the republic, must rediscover its moral vocation. To inform is noble, but to inflame is perilous. Our journalists and commentators must rise above the lure of virality and reclaim the discipline of verification. Editorial diplomacy—anchored in truth, tact, and temperance—should be the new ethos of Nigerian broadcasting and public commentary. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Guild of Editors must collaborate to establish frameworks that ensure only those trained in international relations, law, and security analysis interpret and disseminate sensitive foreign communications.
Nigeria stands at a delicate intersection of perception and policy. Every word spoken on her behalf, every headline crafted in her name, reverberates across embassies and chancelleries around the world. The misstep of a pundit can become the headache of a diplomat. Thus, those privileged to hold a microphone or a pen must remember that they are not merely shaping opinion—they are shaping history.
In moments such as this, wisdom demands restraint. Festina lente—make haste slowly—should be our guiding creed. The art of silence, when exercised by the wise, is not weakness; it is the highest form of strength. To speak without full understanding is to gamble with the nation’s peace; to pause, reflect, and seek expert counsel is to practice the very diplomacy that builds nations.
The time has come for Nigeria’s public intellectuals, analysts, and media custodians to rediscover the dignity of deliberate speech. Let the professionals interpret, let the diplomats negotiate, and let the nation breathe. For in an age where misinformation travels at the speed of light, silence, when born of wisdom, is the most eloquent response.
Ohiri Paul Chidera,MPA
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