By Ogar Monday/James Obongha
The Cross River State Government has reiterated its commitment to bringing lasting peace and mutual cooperation between warring communities and groups in the State.
The State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade made this known at a 2 day workshop organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) under its Infrastructure for Peace (I4P) Program on “Facilitation of Peace and Mediation of Conflict For Peace Management Organizations (PMO’s)”.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Youth and Students’ Mobilization Mr. Mike Abuo stated that the State gives priority to peace and that there can be no form of sustainable development where peace is not allowed to thrive.
The Director General of the Institute Prof. Oshita Oshita on his part, stated that the process to achieving peace in Nigeria is an all inclusive one and that all hands must be on deck in the fight.
Oshita he said it is based on the importance of peaceful coexistence that the institute is taking the program round the country with Cross River as the pilot state.
He added that, his hope for the program is that at the end, peace builders and peace management organizations do have a better grasp of their roles in the peace building process.
A keynote speaker, Prof. Ashira Ashira on his part encouraged the Government to set up a Ministry of Peace and a Peace Commission in all the State and Local Government areas.
He said “this method will entrench a preventive culture in peace builders, as more often than not crises are allowed to escalate and then a fire brigade approach to cure the problem which at that time becomes more expensive than the prevention”.
Prof. Ashira said it was because conflict is inevitable, violent conflicts can be avoided, the conference is being held to chart a course for effective peace building in Nigeria.
The workshop had in attendance critical peacemaking organizations, including security personnel.