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Tag: Peace

  • Ambode, Wike preach love, friendship, peace

    Ambode, Wike preach love, friendship, peace

    Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Rivers) have urged  Nigerians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and reconciliation.

    Ambode, in his Christmas message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, said the season symbolises love, care and compassion for persons, especially the weak, vulnerable and less-privileged.

    According to him, his message to everyone at this period is to put a smile on the face of persons who may not necessarily be able to pay them back.

    “Christmas is a season that explains the depth of God’s love for mankind and exemplary sacrifice that we should emulate in our relationship with our neighbours irrespective of status and creed.

    “This season is another opportunity to increase our acts of kindness and touch the less privileged in our society.

    “Therefore, this Christmas means so much more than just mere merriment. It is a veritable avenue to extend love to the less-privileged who are disadvantaged in several ways.

    “In this special season therefore, I urge you all to spread love and be our brother’s keeper. Let us reach out to those who struggle to provide for their families. Let us put smiles on the faces of the weak and vulnerable. This is the real essence of Christmas,” Ambode said.

    He said the last 12 months brought about different challenging situations which combined to make both residents and the state stronger, just as he expressed optimism that Lagos would get even better in the New Year.

    “Our hope is based on our unshaken faith in the grace of God, the solid foundation which we have laid in terms of infrastructure development and renewal.

    “It is also based on the policies and programmes which we have put in place to positively impact on the social and economic well being of our people,” he said.

    Ambode commended residents for the peaceful atmosphere the state had enjoyed over the years and urged them to emulate Jesus Christ and embrace peace and continue to pray for continued peace in the state.

    “We shall continue to pray for continued peace in Lagos; we shall continue to pray for increased prosperity of our people.

    “We shall not relent in our prayers for Lagos to continue in its path of accelerated and unprecedented growth and we shall look forward to more of your prayers, now, in the New Year and beyond.

    “Our government appreciates the spirit of tolerance and cooperation which has provided the enabling environment for growth and development in Lagos State.

    In a Christmas Message, Wike said the season exemplifies love, advising that Nigerians should always  love one another.

    He urged Rivers people to use this year’s Christmas to erect  platforms  of love, peace  and reconciliation for the greater development of the state.

    The governor advised Rivers people to pray for the state to enjoy greater peace for the state government  to consolidate on her developmental programmes  that have made the state first amongst equals.

    He assured the people of the state that he would remain  focused in his delivery of pro-people projects and programmes to improve their standard of living. .

  • Akintola preaches peace

    Legal practitioner Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) has enjoined Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence that this season symbolises.

    In a Christmas message issued yesterday, Akintola, a leading Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC)  urged Nigerians to seize the moment to reach out to fellow Nigerians in need.

    He said: “The season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence. We must continue to extend a hand of love, benevolence and live as one family, irrespective of our faith or tradition. We must also continue to respect each other’s right to live freely and peacefully.

    “Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ who is the symbol of Christianity and the harbinger of peace, love and good tidings and there is no better way to celebrate the season than by showing love and being our brother’s keeper.

    ”Let us cultivate the habit of giving to those who need our help at this time, it would go a long way to put smiles on their faces.”

    He urged continuous support for the Abiola Ajimobi administration’s policies and programmes, and expressed the hope that the developmental strides would continue to spread across the state.

  • Let Love, peace dominate Christmas

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has enjoined all Christians in the state and their extended families and friends to have a pleasant celebration, dominated by love and happiness and moderated through discipline in an atmosphere of peace.

    In a message of goodwill to citizens of the state the party’s chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, said that ‘the centrepiece of Christmas is love, without which human society will be in a state of perpetual conflict.

    ‘No matter what faith we profess, Christmas is a time all humanity ought to have a feel of love’, he said, adding that ‘Osun should not be different.

    ‘In the coming days, it will be Christmas when all attention hopefully will be focussed on the significance of the ‘birth’ of Christmas in Jesus of Nazareth, the unquestionable symbol of God’s love. ‘Thus, this is not the time for hate, envy and man’s inhumanity to man’, the APC noted, adding that ‘the central teaching of Jesus is the love for God and neighbour.

    ‘That is the spirit in which Osun should observe Christmas’, the party said.

    ‘This period should also be one of the reasons to be grateful to God, not only for sending His son to the world to teach us the way back home, but also for His mercy, in seeing us through this long and difficult year.

    ‘In particular, the people of Osun have a lot to be grateful, for the flood disaster ( omiyale) has become a phenomenon of the past. The environment of Osun is now a lot better; our children now go to school in facilities that are comparable to any such structure in the world.

    ‘We have less crime to deal with and above all, this state has been acknowledged as one of the most peaceful in Nigeria, and perhaps the best investor-friendly area’, the party said. ‘So, let’s make progress by also becoming one of the friendliest and loveliest places to be at Christmas time’, the party urged.

     

  • Priest preaches peace, tolerance at Unusual Praise

    The Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Divine Mercy Lekki 1 Lagos, Reverend Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu, has charged Christians to cultivate the habits of praising God.

    This, he said, will help to promote peace, unity, tolerance and harmony among Nigerians.

    He said this at the Unusual Praise 2017 organised by Catholic Church of Divine Mercy Lekki at Atrium Events Centre, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Thousands attended the event with renowned American gospel singer, Nicole Mullen, Sammie Okposo, Nathaniel Bassey, Steve Crown, Frank Edwards, Samsong, Chioma Jesus, Chinyere Udoma, Joe Praize and Obiwon as ministers.

    According to the Priest, when people come together to worship God, they forget their tribes, denominations and cultural differences.

    “I am very excited as gospel artists from different tribes, languages and cultures came together to lead God’s people in praising God.

    “When praise goes up without any biases, blessings will definitely come down,” he said.

    He described Unusual Praise was inspired by the needs to continuously lead God’s people to elevated praise, worship and prayer.

     

    “We believe that through this, we can lead one united family of God closer to Him,” he stated.

    Chairman of the Organising Committee, Chimeze Emewulu, said Unusual Praise has grown tremendously since inception in 2011.

    It is reputed as the biggest of its kind within the Roman Catholic community in Africa.

     

  • Abia community relishes peace

    Abia community relishes peace

    The people of Umudike community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state have given kudos to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for restoring peace in their community.

    The community and a neighbouring one, Umuelele, were on the verge of shedding blood when  the governor intervened.

    They said that they were obliged to thank the governor for arresting an impending war which, if it was allowed to start, would have led to bloodshed. They said the government allowed reason to prevail, seeing that they are one.

    Speaking with The Nation at Umudike, a leader of the community, Chief Patrick Nwadinobi. said that Umudike community is made up of three brothers, Umuofo, Umuelele and Okwuta and that they are the landlords of both Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and National Roots Crops Research Institute.

    Nwadinobi said that there are numerous visitors living among them especially at the two national institutions, adding that any violence  among them would affect the entire community including their visitors which will not augur well for the image of their community.

    He said that in 2002 that the then government of Orji Uzor Kalu created the Umudike autonomous community with the late Eze Godwin Enyinnaya as their traditional ruler from Umuofo, “Now that he is late the stool rotates to Okwuta as we agreed earlier”.

    The community leader said that when they agreed that the stool should be rotational, “But our brothers from Umuelele who after fighting to produce the traditional ruler and failed decided to fight for their own autonomous community”.

    Nwadinobi said that the disposition of the people of Umuelele led to squabbles that nearly tour the Umudike community apart but for the grace of God, “They Umuelele people have been fighting to take over Amokwe village square which belongs to all of us”.

    He explained that the problem led to a verification group from the state house of assembly after receiving our protest letter, “After their visit they told us to wait for their decision as we were on the verge of killing ourselves”.

    The community leader said that the three kindreds live among each other as there was no definite boundary separating them from each other, stressing that they share everything in common including Catholic and Methodist Churches, markets, stream and schools.

    He recalled that The Nation had earlier in 2013 reported on the problem by the people of Umuelele which led to the entire community missing out from government projects, as government never wanted to site any project in a problem prone area.

    Nwadinobi said that despite the fact that the people of Umuelele were granted their Umudike Ukwu autonomous community, “their name was not gazetted by the state government even when they had already elected their own traditional ruler in the person of Eze Ben Oriaku.

    He noted that the problem created by the people of Umuelele would have led to a full blown war among them, “If not for the fact that we have been withholding our youths, we would have had a serious bloodbath on our hands which would have affected our guests.”

    The Umudike community leader later produced a letter from the state ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs dated 18, 2017 and addressed to the council chairman titled, ‘De-listing of Umudike Ukwu autonomous community, Ikwuano local government area’.

    The letter reads in part, “May I refer to the above subject and inform you that the former Umudike Ukwu autonomous community in Ikwuano local government area has been de-listed as autonomous community”.

    “This action is predicated on the Abia state of Nigeria Traditional Rulers and Autonomous communities (Amendment No.1) law, 2015 which came into force  on the 29th Day of May 2015”.

    “By this letter, Umudike Ukwu autonomous community should as a matter of urgency collapse to its present autonomous community, with immediate effect. You are therefore requested to facilitate the retrieval of staff of office of the former Eze Ben Oriaku while all allowances and entitlements accruable to him should cease from henceforth”.

    The people carried placards with some of them reading, Umudike express gratitude to the governor for making peace among them, We thank the ABHA for their justice after verification, among others.

  • Journalists urged to adopt positive narrative for peace, development

    Journalists have been urged to use positive narrative and perspective to engender the peace and development of Nigeria as an integral part of Africa.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti made the call while giving a keynote address at the opening of a “2-day 2017 Peace Media Parley” held in Lagos last Tuesday.

    Themed “Picture Africa for Peace and Love Initiatives,” the training was jointly organised by African Foundation/Projects for Peace and Love Initiative (AFPLI) and BudgIT.

    Akinreti noted that it was imperative for journalists to explore different narrative and perspective about peace in order to address and  proffer lasting solutions to issues confronting Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    He said journalists should begin to engage people and stakeholders on issues that will promote peace and the development of our society.

    “Don’t picture Africa for war, violence and disease. Don’t picture Nigeria as a crises zone rather, picture Africa for peace and development. Journalists must begin to embrace developmental journalism. We must be solution-oriented,” Akinreti said.

    In an address, the founder of  AFPLI, Dr. Titus Oyeyemi urged journalists to be peace mediators.

    Oyeyemi noted that the training was aimed at giving cartoonists, journalists and photojournalist hands-on training on developmental reporting and photojournalism to foster peace in our communities.

    “Our communities have been torned apart which is not necessary. We need to mend our society. The task essentially rests on the shoulders of journalists. This will help help us live together in peace and harmony as a people.

    ” The role of cartoonists and photojournalism falls within the concept of developmental journalism, a new feature in journalism,” he added.

    Oyeyemi however,  urged cartoonists and photojournalists to make “creative noise, creative faith and creative activities out of their cartoons and photos.”

    One of the facilitators and Editor, African Development Information Service, Mr. Rotimi Sankore urged the participants to maximize data and contextualize their work in order not to fall into prejudice.

    Speaking on “Harnessing the Opportunities in Traka.com Tool by BudgIT.com,” Ilevbaoje Uademen called for a working partnership with journalists in telling their stories.

  • Maulud: Imbibe tenets of peace, Tambuwal urges Nigerians

    Maulud: Imbibe tenets of peace, Tambuwal urges Nigerians

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has urged all Nigerians to uphold the tenets of peaceful coexistence and respect for all faith so as to build a united and peaceful nation where everybody would feel free and safe.

    In a message to commemorate this year’s Maulud celebration issued in Sokoto Friday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) should renew “our faith and bond of unity as one people, one nation, our diversities notwithstanding.”

    He said same way that the birth of the Prophet in Mecca ushered in a new dawn for humanity, Nigerians should view the occasion of this year’s Maulud Nabiyyi as an opportunity for a new beginning for the country.

    “I believe that we will make progress towards the realisation of our shared vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation if our people imbibe the Prophet’s lessons of peace, tolerance, honesty, selflessness, sincerity, justice, equity and peaceful co-existence with others, including fairness to all,” the Governor said.

    He equally urged Muslims across the country to imbibe the virtues of forgiveness, love, piety, humility, transparency, tolerance and perseverance. While reiterating the determination of his administration to create an enabling environment for peace to reign, Tambuwal specifically congratulated Sokoto citizens for witnessing this day.

    He appealed to them not to relent in their prayers for the nation and its leaders.

  • Ambode’s wife canvasses prayers for peace, progress

    Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, last Sunday enjoined Christians to continue to make conscious efforts in sustaining peaceful atmosphere in the state.

    She made the call at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, during the celebration of its 2017 annual family re-union harvest thanksgiving service of the chapel.

    She urged Christians to lead from the front and continue to pray for not just the progress of the state but the nation.

    She assured that Lagos State government will continue to promote fairness, justice and everything that will make life more comfortable for Lagosians.

    “At this critical period in the history of our nation, the church and indeed everyone who believes in the efficacy of prayer have a responsibility and patriotic duty to pray for the wellbeing and progress of our state and nation.

    “Prayer is the master key and there is no challenge that cannot be surmounted with prayers,” she stated.

    The governor’s wife urged the gathering to develop and strengthen the powers of self-control and be close to God.

    She thanked them for the prayer offered for the state, the first family and cabinet members.

    Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rev. Chukwuemeka Uche, admonished the people of God to always give to the needy.

    “Some youths are eating their fruits in their youths just the same way the elders are eating.

    “They have forgotten that the elderly is eating from the seeds planted in their youth,” he stated.

    Uche commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the several laudable projects initiated since he assumed office, saying residents were greatly feeling the impact across the state.

  • Interfaith group to offer prayers for Peace, economic stability

    About 5000  youths are expected to gather in Abuja on the 12th of next month to offer prayers for the full recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari and economic stability in the country.

    The project Coordinator, Okeme Emmanuel who spoke with newsmen yesterday on the programme scheduled to take place at the Eagle Square said the year 2017 has been the most challenging one for the country due to various issues that threatened its existence.

    “It all started with the escalation of the Fulani Herdsmen clashes in various parts of the country leading to destruction of lives and properties, the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB among others.

    “Most disturbing was the deterioratìon of the health of the President and the eviction order on the Igbos living in the Northern Region of Nigeria to vacate the region”he said

    Emmanuel said the prayers which will be conducted by both Christian and Islamic leaders will offer praises and also to interced for the coming year.

    He added that the signing of the National Unity and Peace Accord by leaders of the various religious groups in the country will also be performed during the event.

    Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon is also expected to perform the lighting of the National touch of Peace and unity at the event.

  • EU allocates €430m for peace, security in Africa, says envoy

    EU allocates €430m for peace, security in Africa, says envoy

    The European Union (EU) has said it has allocated 430 million euros to security and peace building in Africa from 2014 to 2020.

    EU Deputy Head of Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS Richard Young said the continent was plagued by a number of complex security challenges, which were intertwined with the EU-owned security.

    He spoke yesterday in Abuja at a peace and security conference organised by EU and Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

    It is to address issues at the EU-African Union Summit to be held between November 29 and 30 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire

    Young said: “The cost of conflicts around the world is put at approximately 14.3 billion dollars, which is about 50 per cent of the world GDP. This is enormous.

    “If you look at Africa, which contributes about 60 per cent to the world population, it has more than one third of the global conflict.

    “We contested with peace and security challenges in Africa. Of course, the EU has been responding to this. A lot has been committed to the issue of security and defence by the EU.”

    The envoy said the EU had since 2003 given 2.6 billion euro to support peace and security operations in Africa.

    “We have earmarked 430 million euros to peace and security in Africa from 2014 to 2020.

    “The EU is an all-weather friend in Africa and we are ready to work closely and support Africa in dealing with the issue of peace and security issue.”