In a circulated attempt to fashion a way out of the natiion’ s security challenges ,thus foster peace and national cohesion, a stakeholders interactive forum was organised today, the 4th of June, for stakeholders to come together and ratiocinate a way out of the maws of insurgency in Nigeria.
In his remark, the Conveyner of the program Wale Adewumi clarified that the essence of the program is not a form of lending political support to any party nor discredit the government but to make a statement on how Nigeria will move forward and put insurgency, banditry and other security challenges at our backs.
“We all have roles to play individually. Business of peace is everybody’s business, ” He stated. Quoting the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he warned that, “When bad men combine, the good must associate, else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle”.
The forum organised by “Game Changer iny.rallied together traditional rulers, community leaders, Oyo NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola, some ethnic leaders, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NSDC, Police, Press and other various stakeholders opened with a key notice address titled “from Tension to Transformation; A Simple Path to Peace by Ambassador Dr Yemi Farounbi whose message harped on recognition of our diversity faultlnes in our mode of greeting, respect languages, diverse history, tradition etc. These differences must reflect in our national structuring, quoting Albert Einstein on reciprocity of respect to back up his message.
Dr Farounbi reiterated that we must retrace our values system and build a better organisation just like our forefathers whose genuine love for the country and pleasant competition spurred national growth and development. “Using ones resources to build another region is a disrespect” He called for retracing our path to regional autonomy.
The representative of the Director, Oyo NOA, Isiaka Kehinde, told the gathering that we need one another for growth and development. “it takes three Europeans to build a great nation,”
He also tasked everyone one to fulfil its own end of the bargain, as explained in the national value system. “with the government fulfilling its own part particularly in the areas of peace/ security, freedom/ justice inclusivity, meritocracy, equality, democracy and entrepreneurship, it behoves on all citizens too to live to their own expectations most especially the citizens code of tolerance and respect, resilience, duty of care.
The Government efforts according to our Security matrix has resulted in cushioning the effect of Boko Haram Insurgency, decrease in banditry and enhanced security operations, he therefore tasked the citizens that “the balls are in their courts to support government as a pathway to lasting peace”, we need Nigerians to build a greater Nigeria”. He noted.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of investiture on communal peace to His Royal Majesty Oba Saliu Oyemonla, Agunloye 4 the Sabi of IganaYeye Moremi Kukuiyalode Oodua and others.
