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Tag: International Day of Peace

  • Int’l Day of Peace: Obaseki sues for peaceful elections in Osun, others

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged political actors and their supporters in Osun State to shun acts capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial election holding in the state on Saturday, September 22.

    Obaseki made the call in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, marked every September 21, by the United Nations (UN) and its various organs.

    The governor said, “Political actors and their supporters in Osun State should eschew acts capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the polls. This is the least anyone could ask for in such a contest.”

    He noted, “It is important for political actors to work together to engender peace before, during and after the elections. This must be the watchword in such a contest and I believe necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that the peaceful conduct of the election.”

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    Obaseki noted that as the country prepares for the 2019 polls, a non-violent approach to resolving disagreements must be adopted, stressing, “As political parties work towards the 2019 elections, and the campaigns build to a fever pitch, Nigerians would be better off with a non-violent approach to accommodating opposing political views. Conscious efforts must be made to avoid acts that threaten peaceful living which is the foundation of socio-economic development.”

    The governor commended the UN on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and for promoting peace across the globe, adding, “Our commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts has been demonstrated in resolving communal clashes and adherence to the rule of law. We have done this by passing and upholding laws that place everyone on the same level before the law no matter how highly placed they are in society. At the same time, we appreciate the role of the UN and civil rights groups who work in ensuring peace among humans.”

    According to the United Nations, the 2018 Theme for the International Day of Peace is: “The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70,” which marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    The Universal Declaration states in Article 3 that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. These elements according to the global body “build the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.”

  • Lagos Government recovers N829.11m

    The Lagos State Government says it has recovered a total of N829.11 million in brockering peace as it relates to civil disputes among residents from January to August.

    The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, made the disclosure on Wednesday at a news conference commemorating 2018 United Nations International Day of Peace.

    The International Day of Peace, sometimes unofficially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on Sept.

    The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people. It is observed on Sept. 21 annually.

    Theme is: “Right to Peace: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70.”

    Kazeem, represented by the Solicitor-General, Mrs Funlola Odunlami, said issues that dominated the mediation were that of landlords and tenants.

    He said the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) registered 33, 670 matters in the period under review.

    Kazeem said of this, 18, 982 matters were mediated and resolved, while 4,701 matters were adjourned and referred to other government agencies for further processing.

    He said that the CMC was an initiative of the state government to serve as a non adversarial dispute resolution centre.

    According to him, this is through the use of mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly, speedily and without discrimination, fear or favour between disputing residents.

    The centre has 18 units spread across the state; it is the thrust of the government to ensure that a unit is established in each council.

    He said that this was to bring mediation services closer to the people, especially the indigents at no cost to them.

    Kazeem said the existence of peace in any society was germane to democracy and a panacea to socioeconomic development and growth.

    He said the forthcoming International Day of Peace coincided with 70th anniversary of the establishment of the UN.

     

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    Kazeem said that its aims in brockering peace as it relates to civil disputes among residents, are to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace and respect for human rights.

    Kazeem noted that the sustenance of human rights would eradicate acrimony and entrench self love and mutual respect among citizens which in the end contributes to global peace.

    He said that the government had put in place mechanisms that would foster development and promote economic activities by instituting agencies that will provide free service modeled at protecting fundamental rights of residents.

    According to him, mediation is a process that has become globally accepted and conforms to the constitutional responsibility of government to promote peace within the state

    He, however, encouraged residents to avail themselves of the free legal services offered by the CMC in amicably resolving all disputes as they may arise.

  • International Peace Day: Obaseki sues for peace

    International Peace Day: Obaseki sues for peace

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has harped on the need for tolerance, dialogue and good neighbourliness among the citizenry and nations as an essential ingredient for attaining global peace.

    Obaseki said this in commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Peace, marked on September 21, with this year’s celebration, tagged Together for peace: respect, safety and dignity for all.

     According to the governor, tolerance of each other’s differences is vital to global peace and harmony, just as is conflict avoidance in our continuous quest for the best human environment to realise our God-given potential.

     He noted that while the imperative for peace is sacrosanct, “conflict has come to define relations among countries and even communities. In addressing these conflicts, we must always remember that critical stakeholders and competing interests would always clash. Hence, the need for continuous dialogue, support, tolerance and reconciliation.”

     He acknowledged that the journey to peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities has been characterised by thorny paths, noting that the onus lies on critical stakeholders, including government and other actors in society, to design programmes and policies that guarantee equity, safety, security and dignity for all and promote initiatives that instil hope in  the poor masses.

    He added, “Building a just society requires that everyone is given equal opportunity to live to their full potential.

    Creating equal opportunities that respect and guarantee rights of the weak as well as safeguard the interest of minorities is a principle that must and should be upheld. As we preach peace on this day, it is important that these issues do not just get a fleeting mention but that we see them fit as ingredients for policy design.”

    The governor condemned the resort to violence in the quest to resolve conflicts and advised that there has never been a better option than to engage in dialogue and reconciliation in managing conflict or transitioning from a conflict situation.

    “We have seen the adverse effects of violence, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere. We encourage everyone, especially young people, to take this day out to show unconditional kindness to their neighbours and other members of their communities,” he said.

    The ideals of peace, according to him, should be a guiding principle in interacting with others, ensuring that our relations are not defined by parochial considerations or targeted at alienating any member of the community, irrespective of their ethnic and religious orientations.

  • Let’s give peace a chance

    Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly of the United Nations has devoted the Day to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

    It is the day the United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities and to otherwise commemorate it through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

    This ideas of peace is very germane in any society as people and nations can only make meaningful progress in an atmosphere of peace, justice and equity.

    Nigeria, though regarded as the giant of Africa has been experiencing increasing spate of bloodshed, kidnapping, and all forms of inhuman treatment in the name of ethnic cum religious clashes most especially in the north.

     Recent statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria stated that developmental projects that would have ameliorated the living standard of the rural poor in the north have been greatly hampered by the unrest in most parts of the north. Many communities have been disserted, churches burnt, and business destroyed. Children have been left to become orphans and women are increasingly becoming widows, a situation which portends great danger for the sustainance of the people and even the yet unborn generation in the region.

     It is however disturbing, and very alarming, the rate and consistency with which Christians are being killed, maimed and rendered homeless in most of the deadly attack on innocent citizens in northern Nigeria, in a manner similar to the genocide in Rwanda. The brutality, cruelty and inhuman manner in which the people are being systematically and consistently killed by individuals claiming to be adherents of the Islamic faith has reached an alarming proportion.

    In the northern parts of the country, these individuals and groups of individuals have been operating for years with reckless impunity and without regard to law and order, or respect to the right of other Nigerians to live and express their faith in God according to their choice.

    As the world celebrates the International Day of peace which focuses on Education for peace, it is necessary to educate Almajiri children who are being used by the violent groups. It is important to note that until we take alamjri children off the streets and provide quality education and empowerment for them to lead a better life, we will not know peace.

    We will continue to experience draw back in our effort to enthrone lasting peace in Nigeria when we have most of the Alamjiri children live in hopeless condition. They sleep on the street; they are covered with flies and lie in inhuman conditions. They are always ready to kill without human feeling because they themselves grow up in hopeless conditions. We will be able to engage a wider spectrum of our society on acts of peace and peacebuilding when they are educated.  Achieving gains in education will have an impact on all the Millennium Development Goals as well as lower child and maternal mortality, to better health, higher income and more environmentally-friendly societies.

    We wish to state that there are indigenous northern Christians in the North who are facing inhuman persecution due to their faith. They need our support and prayers. We should all raise our voice at whatever level that we are in support of the persecuted persons in total condemnation of murders and destruction.

    Emmanuel is the Secretary, Board of Trustees, Voice of Christian Martyrs.