Govt 'll partner with SPSP to achieve peace
The Rivers State Government has said it will partner with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) in ensuring that peace prevails not only in the Niger Delta region but also in the entire country.
The state Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gave the assurance on Monday in an address he sent through his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru to the 3rd annual conference and general meeting of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice held at Tahir Guest Palace, Nassarawa Area, Kano, Kano State
The state chief executive stressed that peace is paramount in the scheme of things of his administration hence it took several steps towards achieving relative peace in the state, among which was the setting up of the Justice Kayode Eso Peace and Reconciliation Commission to bring back confidence to the people
According to him, the peace achieved in the State is a result of the partnership between the Joint Military Task Force, the state government and other stakeholders, pointing out that the federal government on its part has been supportive of all actions geared towards peace in the state.
“Through the activities of security agencies, stakeholders and the federal government, we are beginning to dislodge criminals who call themselves militants and peace is returning to Port Harcourt and the state as a whole”, he emphasized.
Also speaking, Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau said his administration has brought back peace to the one-time volatile Kano State through the collective effort of the people and assured the tempo will be sustained.
Governor Shekarau observed that the achievement of peace in any society was not limited to the provisions of the law but the responsibility of all including traditional rulers and the church and called on Christians and their Muslim counterparts to conduct themselves according to their doctrines.
“Unless we conduct ourselves according to our beliefs and what we preach peace will continue to elude us since there is no better peace than that from God”, he stressed, pointing out that good governance is a vehicle for peace.
In his keynote address, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau noted that the media as a pace setter plays a key role in conflict management, pointing out that the use of force aggravates violence rather than bring peace.
Lt. Gen. Dambazau who spoke on the theme “the role of the army in conflict management” disclosed that the Nigeria Army has participated in peace keeping operations in about fourteen countries while the country is the 4th largest in the operation.
