President Muhammadu Buhari has again been tasked on the need to restore peace and end the violence threatening the existence of the country before handing over power in 2023.
The President was specifically asked to do everything within the power of the federal government and within the ambit of the law to end killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits and other criminals.
National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ambassador Dickson Ameh Akoh, made the plea at the 2022 United Nations Day of Peace held in Abuja.
On the occasion with theme: “End Tribal and Religious Bigotry. Build Peace,” the Peace Corps boss said “it is our firm belief that we need to do more on uniting Nigerian people in our corporate efforts towards ensuring a peaceful society regardless of tribal or religious affinity.
“We are advocating for an end to the hydra-headed challenges of ethnic and religious sentiments which have, over the years, eaten deep into the fabric of our society in the most negative way.
“It will not be out of place at this juncture to remark that Nigeria, is today,! in the vicious grip of inexplicable violent killings of horrendous proportions.
“Sadly, Nigeria has become a theatre full of tension, violence, declining values, electoral fraud, social injustice, poor resource management, ethnic and religious intolerance.
“Related to this, the gun culture has already taken a dominant position in the psyche of Nigerians, threatening the future of the youths who deserve a peaceful and better quality of life.
“It is on this note that it becomes necessary for me to emphasize that peace cannot be attained in the midst of avoidable crisis, the kind that we are witnessing today in Nigeria.
“These needless crises should attract the concern of well-meaning individuals in the polity, including the government. No doubt, if the government takes the right decision, it is possible for people to live in peace and harmony.
“The need to pursue peace, institutionalize peace and preach peace has become highly imperative for all and sundry, regardless of ethno-religious and ideological differences.
“Let me emphasize here that whether this tension, conflict or violence has origin in class, status, ethnicity, sex, religion or nationalism, we are dealing with the same fundamental issues.
“It is therefore absolutely important for every well-meaning Organisation, corporate body and right-thinking citizen of any nation to embrace peace, so that the world will be a better place to live in.
“People must realize that without peace, there can be no harmony, and without harmony there cannot be progress, growth and development.”.
“This day however, reminds us on the need for us to work towards safeguarding the human rights of people with a view of building peaceful and inclusive societies without recourse to ethnic or religious sentiments.
“While praying for an expeditious end to the myriad of security challenges bedevilling Nigeria, we wish to commiserate with all the victims of violence across the country.”
Akoh also prayed for the repose of souls of troops, whose lives have been cut short in the frontlines of the battle to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
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