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“the labor of our heroes past shall never be in vain”, reads the fifth line of the Nigerian national anthem.

Every morning during the student assembly, we recited this anthem which we all had committed to memory alongside our ABCs.

“to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign” is how the anthem ends after which we pledged “to serve our country with all our strength”.

Many ask why fight for peace and justice? Why fight for human rights? Is it really worth it? What became of those who fought? What will become of those who are still fighting?Those who fought were either persecuted to silence, locked up behind bars or simply silenced forever. What became of Gandhi?… Martin Luther King?… Malcolm X?… and the thousands of heroes known and unknown who fought with tears and sweat that perhaps someday…one day… peace will reign on earth?

In January of 1948, Gandhi was assassinated and in December of the same year, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came to life promising the peace and justice that his blood was shed for.

…Gandhi’s was a costly life to be shed but now no more, we have declared no more…

In 30 Articles, we enumerated:
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Article 3: The right to life, liberty and the security of person

yet in 1964 Mandela went to prison,

in 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated,

and in 1968 MLK was also assassinated.

for the same peace and justice Gandhi died for…I thought we said no more…Was his labor in vain?

Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and thousands of heroes known and unknown remain with us today and continue the struggle for peace and justice. Spending the better years of their lives fighting for the peace and justice we yearn to have.

for the same peace and justice that MLK Junior and Malcom X died for… Was their labor in vain?

Perhaps the labor of Gandhi, MLK and Malcom have been in vain???… it hurts me to ask, but what choice have I? What choice have I when civil and religious conflicts, man-made wars and civic unrest continue to plague us years after barrels of sweat, tears and blood have been shed in the name of peace and justice?

the same peace and justice that the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Mandela continue to fight for… is their labor in vain?

“I pledge to humanity that I’ll do my part… that I’ll continue to fight… that I’ll labor for peace and justice”

the labor of our heroes past… and present… shall never be in vain… never in vain… never!