By Ogar Monday/Grace Orok
The Cross River State Government has been urged to effectively monitor and use early warning signs of violent conflicts to mitigate and curtail conflict reoccurrence and for the State to build strong institutions that will aim at curbing inequality.
This was contained in a communiqué signed by participants and issued at the end of a road walk to mark the 2016 World Peace Day organized by Partners for Peace (P4P) Cross River State chapter in collaboration with the office of the State Security Adviser and other NGO’s in the State.
The communiqué further urged the State Government to “deploy transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, policy coherence, and implementation of previous peace and reconciliatory recommendation to tackle emerging conflicts”.
It finally encouraged the Cross River State Government to work “assiduously to achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as a way of fostering peace in the State”.
Speaking at the start of the six kilometer walk, Mrs. Okoho Umo Partners for Peace, Cross River State Coordinator said the network does not take sides and in no way point fingers at persons on its drive to resolving conflicts.
The walk which took off from Mary Slessor roundabout and ended at Leopard Town roundabout had representatives from different NGO’s like Development Options, Nigerian Red Cross, National Youth Council, Youth Alive and Hope Organization amongst others.
World Peace Day is celebrated every 21st September.