Sungkhum Sangtam
Concern citizen
At this critical juncture, what Nagaland needs most is not another confrontation, but cooperation, understanding and collective responsibility. Whether one occupies the highest position of leadership, serves in government, represents a political party, works through civil society or belongs to the grassroots, every citizen has a role to play in strengthening peace, stability and good governance in our State.
Our visionary leader, the Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, as the head of the democratically elected State Government, carries an important constitutional and political responsibility at this defining moment. Through his experience, statesmanship and commitment to peace and development, he has consistently worked to protect the interests of Nagaland and promote unity among the Naga people.
However, the responsibility of governing and building a better Nagaland cannot rest upon the Chief Minister alone. It is a shared responsibility involving elected representatives, government officials, political parties, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, churches, tribal bodies, intellectuals, veteran leaders, women, youth and every ordinary citizen.
At this important stage in our history, all veteran political leaders, former legislators, retired bureaucrats, intellectuals and experienced public servants should come forward and cooperate with the visionary leadership of Dr Neiphiu Rio. Their accumulated knowledge, experience and wisdom are valuable resources for the State. These should be shared constructively to help the present Government address our political, social, economic and developmental challenges.
This cooperation should rise above political affiliations, personal differences and past rivalries. When the welfare and future of the Naga people are at stake, party boundaries must become secondary.
Supporting the Chief Minister in matters concerning peace, development and the Naga political solution does not mean abandoning one’s political principles. It means placing Nagaland and the collective interests of its people above individual or partisan considerations.
Differences of political opinion should never prevent cooperation on matters affecting the common good. We may disagree over policies, interpretations of history or political approaches, but we must not lose sight of the larger interests of the Naga people. Constructive criticism and responsible cooperation can and must exist together.
The Government must listen to the people, leaders must listen to one another, and citizens must participate with responsibility and wisdom. A government becomes stronger when experienced people offer sincere guidance, when criticism is based on facts, and when citizens cooperate in implementing policies intended for the public good.
Our greatest strength will not come from proving who is right in every political argument. It will come from our ability to disagree without dividing, question without insulting and cooperate without compromising our principles. Differences should become a source of better understanding, not an excuse for hostility.
Let the present controversy become a lesson rather than another cause of division.Let our elders share their experience and wisdom. Let our present leaders exercise statesmanship and restraint. Let our younger generation bring courage, knowledge and fresh ideas to the table. Let every institution perform its responsibilities with integrity, and let every citizen remember that the future of Nagaland belongs to all of us.
Our respected veteran leaders should not withdraw from public life or allow differences of opinion to keep them apart from the common cause. Their wisdom is still needed. Their experience can guide the younger generation and strengthen the hands of the present leadership. Nagaland will move forward more confidently when the experience of our elders and the vision of our current leadership work together.
The Chief Minister cannot be expected to resolve every problem alone. He needs the sincere cooperation, guidance and goodwill of all sections of society. Veteran leaders must share their knowledge with him; intellectuals must offer practical ideas; bureaucrats must implement policies with honesty and efficiency; civil society organisations must promote understanding; and citizens must participate responsibly in building the State.
Nagaland does not need louder voices; it needs wiser voices. It does not need deeper divisions; it needs broader understanding. It does not need personalities to stand above institutions; it needs institutions strengthened by responsible citizens and accountable leadership.
Political positions will change, governments will change, leaders will come and go, and present controversies will eventually pass. However, the Naga people and our beloved State will remain. Therefore, our words and actions today must be measured against one fundamental question: Will what we are doing strengthen the future of Nagaland, or will it leave another wound for the next generation to inherit?
This is the time for collective wisdom. It is the time for senior politicians, veteran leaders, former legislators, bureaucrats, intellectuals, tribal leaders, church leaders, women, youth and civil society representatives to come together and contribute positively under the leadership of the democratically elected Government.
Our visionary leader Chief Minister, Dr Neiphiu Rio, must be supported through honest counsel, constructive criticism and sincere cooperation. Those who possess experience and institutional knowledge should share them freely for the greater good. Cooperation does not require everyone to agree on every issue; it requires everyone to recognise that Nagaland’s future is more important than personal differences.
The Naga political issue, in particular, requires a united and mature approach. No individual, political party, tribe or organisation can claim exclusive ownership of it. Our senior leaders possess valuable historical knowledge, while the present leadership carries the responsibility of navigating today’s political realities. Both must work together to move towards an honourable, acceptable and lasting solution.
Let us therefore choose dialogue over confrontation, facts over rumours, wisdom over anger and unity over division.
Let the wisdom of our elders guide us, the courage of our leaders inspire us, and the voice of our people keep us accountable.
Nagaland is bigger than any individual. The Naga people are greater than any political party.
Our common future is more important than any temporary controversy.
May every leader, institution and citizen rise above personal and political differences and work together for a peaceful, united, dignified and prosperous Nagaland.
Above all, let us leave behind a stronger and more peaceful Nagaland that the next generation will be proud to inherit.
