Ambode, Ki-moon decry increased global conflicts

Governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode and Ban Ki-moon, secretary general, United Nations (UN), have decried rising global conflicts with a call on nations of the world to embrace enduring peace.

They spoke on Monday as Lagos joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Day of Peace, which saw hundreds of persons march through Awolowo Way in Ikeja, preaching the gospel of global peace at an event organised by the Citizen’ Mediation Centre (CMC), in Lagos.

Ki-moon, represented by Roland Kadanya, UN programme officer in Nigeria, noted that, “this year’s International Day of Peace comes at a time of deadly violence and destabilising conflicts around the world. Rather than succumbing to despair, we have a collective responsibility to demand an end to the brutality and impunity that travail.

“I call on all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observer a global ceasefire. To them I say, stop the killings and the destruction, create space for lasting peace. There is no group more poise to help 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. I urge all government to make greater investments in realising the potentially massive contributions of the world’s young peace builders.

“At the same time, we need to mobilise all partners who share the goal of peace. Non-governmental organisations, faith-based groups and corporations all have a role to play in fostering social progress, protecting the environment and creating a more just, stable and peaceful world.”

Ambode, represented by Funlola Odunlami, permanent secretary, the state ministry of Justice, said the state government established the CMC in 1999 to serve as a non-adversarial dispute resolution centre through the use of mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly, speedily without discrimination, fear or favour between disputing residents in the state.

The centre currently has 14 units spread across the state, she said, adding that the policy thrust of the government is to ensure that a unit is established in all local government areas of the state.

“The CMC will adopt the UN International Day for Peace as an annual event to propagate the ethos of peaceful coexistence among residents in the state,” she said.