BY NIGERIAN AUTHOR AMARA CHIDINMA EZEDINIRU

It’s Monday morning, the start of a new week and I feel grateful that ECOWAS, Nigeria and Niger are not yet at war.

Since the news of the junta takeover in our neighboring country broke out, many of us have been bothered. Anyone with the national interest at heart knows that it is a worrisome situation.

I do not solve problems without getting to the source. From the source, you can tell the resulting impact of the problem and the solution one intends to administer. We should always be at cause, not effect. Being at cause means taking responsibility and ensuring that the solution you intend to administer is not ephemeral. Your solution should be aimed at the cause of the problem not just the symptoms.

If you live in my country, I doubt this is the approach we have always taken in getting by. We like to talk before we think and make pronouncements before we reflect. No wonder we are where we are.

Should it be so?

What should be more important when dealing with relationships, the pact, a formal agreement between individuals or parties, or the impact, a marked effect or influence?

Pacts involve specific terms, responsibilities, and commitments that are mutually agreed upon. Pacts can be important in various types of relationships, such as business partnerships, legal agreements, and certain personal relationships where clear expectations and boundaries need to be established. Pacts help with clarity, accountability and protection. While pacts provide structure, they may not fully capture the nuanced and dynamic nature of all types of relationships, especially those based on emotions, personal connections, and shared values.

An impact goes farther than pacts. Impact comprises tangible and intangible effects on the individuals involved, as well as on the broader context of their lives and, by extension, a nation and even humanity. Impact could be emotional, psychological, and social outcomes of the interactions between people. The impact of a relationship can be positive or negative, and it often extends beyond the boundaries of any formal agreement (pact).

Imagine the impact of the pacts between the colonialists and many African countries!

Balancing both aspects is key. While a formal agreement provides structure, it’s important not to lose sight of the emotional and interpersonal dynamics that contribute to the overall impact of a relationship. An ideal approach would be to strike a balance between clear expectations (pact) and fostering positive emotional and social outcomes (impact), ensuring that both elements contribute to a healthy and fulfilling relationship.

Long after the pacts are done and dusted, the impacts, usually unforeseen because one thing leads to another, set in. They could be disastrous or meaningful, empowering or shackling, freedom or great emancipation. The West knows how to plot their graphs in their overall interest. We are yet to master the art.

I hope that the Republic of Niger, Nigeria, and ECOWAS will keep this in mind as they resolve their disagreements. Everyone is right in their eyes until we start considering the overall impact of our planned decision.

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About the author

A distinguished teacher, an author of award-winning books, a neuro-linguistic programming coach, human resource generalist, business administrator, management consultant and an articulate public speaker, Amara’s background in marketing, education and management makes her outstanding in the delivery of overall business services for optimal productivity. When she is not in the boardroom, she’s in the classroom or in her writing room.

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