The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peace Day

  • On International Peace Day

    Sir: As the world again gears up to commemorate the 2018 edition of the annual International Day of Peace tomorrow, September 21, expectations are rife that the event will address the many salient challenges confronting the human race, as peace cannot be substituted with any other variables.  For decades, Africa and indeed the world have had a large spectrum of repulsive events, making peace in practical terms, an illusion.

    Peace, an integral portion of the human daily life, is not only germane to development, but also serves as the bedrock upon which growth and other strides, tailored for the benefit of humanity, are hinged. This informs why it has always been a major subject of discourse across regional, national and international bodies such as, the African Union, European Union and other blocks, who have also spent a larger chunk of their budgets, all with the view to ensuring that, peace is imbibed across religious, cultural, ethnic and political divide globally.

    As Africa and other third world countries daily confronts child abuse, illegal migration, droughts, food scarcity, militancy, rape and a plethora of humanitarian crisis and other social vices, the long years of the search for an enduring peace, which to a very large extent is elusive and defy different philosophies and postulations as propounded by experts and other stakeholders, needs to be holistically addressed  to at least, ameliorate the burden of the victims and other vulnerable groups across continents.

    Meanwhile, government globally, apart from ensuring the safety of lives and properties of its people, is also charged with the responsibility of ensuring that its people enjoy peace along other inalienable rights that are the exclusive preserve of all.

    More importantly, the people, going by the scope of peace, which is internal and external, must be guided and conscientised towards inculcating internal  peace whose absence, is detrimental to the well-being of the individual. Firstly, the need to understand that, an individual is firstly responsible for his/her life thus, the responsibility of acquiring and maintaining internal peace, must not be abdicated entirely to the government and other external bodies.

    Although, it can also be posited that, government to a large extent, is partly responsible for the availability of internal peace, as its policies and programmes could either mitigate internal violence or promote psychological imbalance an individual is contending with. This is why the theme for this year’s International Day of Peace, “The Right to Peace”, is very apt in that the people, irrespective of class and colour, have been yearning to have for a very long time.

    Before now, events  that most member states globally usually lined up to commemorate the day revolves around Interfaith dialogues, community gathering, vigils,  peace education,  soccer/football matches in the spirit of peace, writing of peace poetry, feast for peace, yoga, engaging youths in peace-building activities, service to others, parades and flag ceremony, meditation and prayer, concerts and festivals, public programmes with government officials and the observance of minute of silence at 12 noon for all time zone, amongst others.

    In view of this, it is expected that, the 2018 event be tailored along the afore-listed while it is also hoped that, all aggrieved political and religious agitators sheathe their swords and allow peace to dominate, just as the various orientation agencies up their ante to dissuade people from the various acts that contribute to insecurity and other acts enhancing the ugly trend in the society, while other stakeholders engaging in humanitarian services extend their efforts to the nooks and crannies to lessen the sufferings of the people. If these are put in place, the much talk about peace will definitely be realised.

     

    • Yemi Olajumoke, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
  • 20 Tiv farmers killed on Taraba’s Peace Day

    20 Tiv farmers killed on Taraba’s Peace Day

    No fewer than  20 Tiv farmers were yesterday killed in Dan-Anacha, Gassol Local Government area of Taraba State by suspected Fulani militias.

    The killings took place as the state was busy at a “Peace Concert” in a stadium in Jalingo –the state capital – organised by Governor Darius Ishaku.

    Dozens of other farmers were severely injured in the attack.

    Some sources said Fulani marauders on Saturday afternoon invaded the Tiv community in Dan-Anacha, whose name was recently changed to Kwararafa, where they hacked down people. The hostilities lasted until yesterday morning.

    Hundreds of Tiv residents have reportedly fled Dan-Anacha, although soldiers and policemen were deployed in the area to keep the peace.

    Taraba State President of Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA), Goodman Dahida, who met with security agencies and traditional rulers, said the bodies of 17 Tiv and two Fulani were recovered. The toll is likely to rise today.

    “There are more bodies said to be lying in the bush which have not been recovered,” he said, adding that the killings were done with sophisticated guns.

    Police spokesman David Mishal, who confirmed the killings to The Nation on the telephone, described the incident as an “undercover attack where you invade someone’s home and attack him when there is no war going on.”

    He said he would release the “real details of the number of casualties,” to the media after conclusion of investigation by the police.

    He said: “Yes; some unidentified groups of people, suspected to be Fulani, attacked Tiv in Dan-Anacha. We are trying to gather more information on the number of casualties.”

    Gory photographs of Tiv farmers massacred in the “undercover attack” yesterday went viral on the social media particularly on Facebook.

    Tiv farmers were killed massively by Fulani herdsmen between 2012 and 2014. The coming onboard of Governor Ishaku, who sued for peace and provided security, brought a near-end to the killings.

    The displaced Tiv farmers have just returned to their homes to resume work on their farms when the Fulani opened a new chapter of hostilities against them yesterday.

    TCSA President Goodman Dahida urged Ishaku to “do something urgently” to save the lives of hundreds of the Tiv farmers who have become endangered species in central Taraba.

    Dahida posted on his Facebook wall: “What does a Fulani man want from a Tiv man for goodness sake? What are they gaining in the killings? Mr Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, these people are out again in their killing spree of Tiv people. Do something urgently or…”

    There was a peace meeting in Dan-Anacha involving Dahida and other security agencies, reportedly at the prompting of Governor Darius Ishaku.

    At the meeting were Commissioner of Police Yunas Babas, President of Fulani’s Miyati-Alla, the Lamdo Gassol, village head of Dan-Anacha, other Tiv chiefs, the divisional police office, the SSS and other opinion leaders.

    The commissioner of police called for calm and truce, and created two camps for the displaced Tiv farmers.

    Babas was seen stopping vehicles and asking fleeing displaced persons to return, with an assurance that they would be protected.

  • United Nations mark peace day in style

    United Nations mark peace day in style

    The 2015 International Day of Peace has been marked in Lagos with fanfare as youths, government and NGO partners trooped to the street to ‘Walk for peace’.

    The peace day observance, which started with a press briefing, was addressed by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami and the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja.

    The conclusion of the press briefing marked the beginning of an exciting ‘Walk for Peace’ as organised by UNIC in Lagos and Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC).

    Delivering his message on the theme for 2015 observance – ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All’, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, called on all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe a global ceasefire.

    “To them I say: stop the killings and the destruction, and create space for lasting peace.” The Secretary-General who was represented by the Director of UNIC Lagos further said: “There is no group more poised to help realize this dream than today’s young people. They are part of the largest generation of youth in history, more aware and connected than any before.”

    Speaking earlier, Governor Ambode thanked the UN Information Centre for the partnership and pledged that the CMC would adopt the International Day of Peace as an annual event to propagate the ethos of peaceful co-existence among residents in Lagos State.

    Flagged off by Mrs Odunlami and led by Mr Kayanja and the CMC Director, Mrs Oluwatoyin  Odusanya, the road show started from the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja through Obafemi Awolowo Way and terminated at Ikeja-under-bridge where a citizens’ mediace dayation session was held by the CMC, an agency of the Lagos State government under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice.

    The CMC serves as a non-adversarial dispute resolution Centre using mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly and speedily to the satisfaction of both parties.

    With participants numbering over 100 and clad in branded T-shirts, dancing to contemporary songs, to the admiration of members of the public, the ‘Walk for Peace’ road show stopped intermittently at intersections to give room for professional dancers to entertain while leaflets with peace building messages were shared with members of the public.

  • Ex-militants urge Dickson to host Bayelsa Peace Day

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has been in the saddle for over three years. Dickson has within the period hosted a few international events in Yenagoa, the state capital. But there is a local event with a global appeal that Dickson has failed to host – the Bayelsa Peace Day.

    The Bayelsa Peace Day is very important to the historical development of the state. It is celebrated on August 22 to coincide with the day former creek warlords popularly called freedom fighters in the Niger Delta region surrendered their arms and ammunition to embrace the Amnesty Programme offered them by the Federal Government.

    Prior to the day of disarmament, the region was a hotbed of militancy. The freedom fighters relocated to the creeks, set up militant camps and engaged federal troops in a prolonged war to protest the marginalisation of the region. They were angry that despite being the goose that lays the golden eggs, the region was allowed to languish in penury and neglect.

    They were aggrieved that in spite of being the economic pillar of the country, the Niger Delta was abandoned to wallow in abject poverty. They protested violently and started satisfying with barrels of gun, demands the government refused to fulfill for them peacefully. Kidnapping became a burgeoning empire and waves of coordinated attacks on oil installations swept across the region. The militants soon brought oil production to its lowest ebb and brought the Nigerian economy to its knees.

    But in his wisdom, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, governors and elders in the region brokered a peace deal. Yar’Adua proclaimed amnesty for the militants and brought them out of the creeks. On August 22, the grand finale of submission of arms and ammunition was held at the Adaka Boro Park, Yenagoa, which was also called the Peace Park to reflect the spirits of the day.

    It was fearful sight to behold. Daring and fearless young men were on parade. Also in display, were cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition. Militant commanders whose names sent jitters into the spines of people came out and revealed their identities. The public for the first time, matched their faces with their names. They all renounced militancy and agreed to promote the peace.

    So, the Bayelsa Peace Day was born. It was first celebrated on August 22, 2010 by the former administration of Governor Timipre Sylva. It was repeated in 2011 by Sylva who used the three-day event to remind the ex-militant leaders of their pledge for peace.

    Through the occasion, he brought the ex-warlords together and became very popular among them. The eventful period used to be very colorful. Tompolo, Boyloaf, Africa, Pastor Reuben, Shoot-at-Sight, Ogunboss, Ateke Tom, Farrah and many other former ‘generals’, ‘commanders’ and their foot soldiers graced the event. Bayelsa bubbled as the events started with Peace Walk, concert and ended with the Miss Peace Beauty Pageant.

    But since assuming office, Dickson has not hosted a day which the ex-militant leaders and many Bayelsans say is precious to them. Many people believe that the governor is far away from the ex-militants because of his inability to host the Peace Day.

    In a letter addressed to the governor, one of the foremost ex-militant leaders, Mr. Victor Ben Ebikabowei, popularly called Boyloaf appealed to the governor to consider hosting the Peace Day. The letter which was obtained by the Niger Delta Report reminded the governor the reason for the celebration.

    He said: “Most recently the Niger Delta region has been engulfed in hostilities induced by decades of undeserved official neglect, although the base of the nation’s wealth communities in the region still ranks tops in the list of under-developed communities of the country. These and other fundamental issues led us to arms struggle to liberate our people from the injustice done to them by the Nigerian State.

    “However, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn to chart new course of peace by granting amnesty to militants in the region, thereby opening a new chapter of intellectual dialogue.

    “The Amnesty Programme has succeeded beyond the imaginations of bookmakers and public analysts.  August 22nd 2009 at the Peace park Yenagoa saw the return of the highest hull of arms since the commencement of the amnesty programme.

    “This is a demonstration of our patriotism and eagerness to resolve the lingering issues amicably.  Since the commencement of the amnesty programme our youths have been provided with non-violence training and sent to different parts of the world to acquire skills and enable them to be self-sustaining and re-integrate them to the society.

    “In August 2010 & 2011 we celebrated the Bayelsa Peace Day, despite the meager funds; it was a huge success, the Peace Carnival Walk and Peace Concert.

    “Once more, we are prepared to demonstrate to the nation and the International community that the historic disarmament exercise on August 22nd, 2009 at the Peace park Yenagoa was a not a mere charade or funfair. We are committed to a sustainable peace process for accelerated development of the state and the Niger Delta region”.

    He told the governor that the event of this year was proposed to last three days with a range of artistic activities aimed at building a culture of peace. He said the proposed activities include symposium/lecture, Peace day carnival walk & concert and Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty Pageant.

    He said: “The peace walk/carnival in 2011 saw the participation of 4,000 youths. This year we anticipate over 5,000 youths will participate. The event is aimed at regaining the lost investors confidence and re-assure the international community and the nation that indeed there is peace in Bayelsa State.

    “Above it will mark our collective progress towards building a culture of peace, make a stance against crime and violence and serve as a reminder of our permanent commitment to peace.”