In two days from now specifically on the 18th of September, 2014 the existence of the United Kingdom will be threatened, it’s stability will be shaken to its very core as Scotland votes for Independence to bring an end to a relationship of staggering 307 years when the Union was formed in 1707 at the Treaty of York.
Modern Scottish Parliament sat for the first time in 1999. The Independence campaign has been long in the offing and in recent months, it gained momentum as the Scottish Parliament proposed a referendum to part ways with UK and makes Scotland an Independent nation. A ‘Yes’ vote will mean Scotland becomes an Independent country while for a ‘No’ vote, it remains part of Great Britain.
Recent polls have indicated a too-close to call vote with the results showing only very marginal split between the Better-Together supporters and We-Alone supporters; the vote can still go both ways.
Whichever way the vote swings by the 18th of September, there is salient lesson for Africa and the rest of the civilized world from the way and manner the campaign for Scotland’s Independence have been handled so far.
The world has advanced, nations have moved on and the most salient and thoughtful lesson in this Scotland’s Independence is the fact that Independence should not come by guns, wars and shedding of blood. It should come peacefully with simple understanding between the individual parties involved in the most civilized way possible. No killings, no genocide, no hate message propaganda, only the true will of the people should be peaceful obeyed.
A striking point to note is the way in which both sides have pursued its campaign- purely issued-based appealing to both reason and emotion of the people. Highlighting the advantages or disadvantages of self-governance, what they stand to gain or lose if they stay together or go their separate ways.
I watched Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech yesterday evening and I was moved beyond words, no threats, and simple coercion, clarification what is at stake going it alone and what Scotland stands to gain remaining part of the Union.
South Sudan’s Independence came at the cost of lives untold, years of bloodshed and war whose impact still haunt the country till today even after the much-desired independence. Closer to home, bits and pieces of the Biafran war still haunt our country till date albeit not so noticeable. Eastern Ukraine has not known peace for months because a region wants Independence.
Not that every region or part of a nation should wake up every now and then to demand for independence and self governance but when it arises, it should be dealt with simple understanding and common sense and in the most civilized way possible not with selfishness or the use of force.
For every desire of Independence, there are issues raised and for peaceful agreement and co-existence, these issues must be addressed the in the best way possible so no party feels slighted or cheated.
It is a very simple and salient lesson to the rest of the world, to all those that still live in the Stone Age and believes that everything is gotten by the use of force, the world has moved on. Territories are no longer taken through war; we now live in a modern world.
The United Kingdom is a truly a civilized nation and an example of which the rest of the world can emulate.
Vincent Anani (ananik.vincent@gmail.com)
Views expressed are solely the author’s
