The quest for peace and unity in Nigeria has received a boost, as some ethnic and socio-political groups have agreed to work towards preventing conflict and ensuring peaceful co-existence among the various Nigerian ethnic nationalities.
Leaders of the groups, who converged on Lagos on Wednesday for training session with the theme: “Engaging the media, community-based groups for peace building and conflict prevention,” called on the Federal Government to intensify the mopping up of illegal arms across the country and initiate the process for continuous dialogue, promising to strengthen a national working group for peace and conflict building in the country.
Speaking during the training, Akinbayo Olasoji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), blamed crises in Nigeria on greed and self-serving interests of some religious, political and community leaders. He commended the coming together of young ethnic leaders in choosing to address the problems of conflict in the country.
Sina Odugbemi, leader of the African Conflict Prevention and Peace Network, stressed the need to study the environment in order to sustain peace.
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“The flow of arms and the threats to stability in Nigeria cannot be resolved unless we have a deep understanding of the proliferation of arms. Nigeria is surrounded by French-speaking countries; the free flow of movement of people in that area is an indication that Nigeria will remain unsafe unless there is a strong and effective border,” Odugbemi said.
Also, Tijani Suleiman, vice president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), said: “As a people we have the responsibility to work towards peaceful co-existence. Violence is an ill-wind that blows no one any good; we can make the choice to prevent conflict in Nigeria”.
Adekunle Oshodi, president of Agbekoya, a Yoruba group, said his group was excited to participate in a forum initiated for stakeholders in conflict in which the people are the drivers of the process.
The groups observed that ordinary people were worried about the spate of violence in some parts of the country and bringing an end to the crises could be achieved when the people realised that they were the main actors.
Tony Nyiam, a retired army colonel, said that one of the most crucial ways to prevent conflict was for the people to engage themselves by their free will.
“Nigerians want to live in peace. There is no one that would prefer conflict to peace. What we have seen is a situation where platforms for conflict prevention are lacking while the leaders run up and down to douse the fire when it is too late.
The best way to prevent conflict is through active and robust engagement among the stakeholders. Conflict that is addressed at its budding stage is unlikely to mature while those left unattended to lead to chaos and violence,” Nyiam said.
Onyinye Onyemobi, who represented the Ford Foundation, noted that the involvement of young people in the conflict prevention training was an impressive initiative.
Present at the training were leaders of Miyetti Allah, Oodua Peoples Congress, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, Igbo Youth Council and the Indigenous Middle Belt Peoples Congress.
Also in attendance were representatives from Arewa Youth Consultative Council, National Council of Iteskiri Youths, Agbekoya, Borno Youth Coalition and the Ijaw National Congress, among others.
