An array of ‘peaace’ initiatives

By Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele

As globalization increases the movement of people, culture and ideas, managing diversity, ethnicity, religions, and security, social, political and gender mainstreaming will be the foremost challenge of any developing nation. It requires a positive vision of how plural societies thrive for harmonious co-existence. As the nation basks in the euphoria of the centenary celebration, it is a time of stock-taking, a time to reflect on how far the nation has come, a time to re-assess those reasons that held us together as a nation and those that divide us as a people. The global spate of terrorism across the world entered into our clime with kidnapping, rape, militancy, and most rudely, Boko Haram insurgency.

As President Jonathan said, “It is not about the next election, but about the next generation,” which happens to be the youths. As for the mother of the nation, negative or positive issues of the nation rest more on her shoulders, and she feels the pinch more, even beyond our shores, as the President of African First Ladies Peace Mission. Knowing full well, that during wars, the attendant ravages of the fabric of the society, is brought to bear more on the women, Dame Jonathan deems it necessary and wise at this time of our national life and history to re-orientate, re-enact our cultural values and history, including the love for one another which will be bequeathed on the next generation of Nigerians.

The first lady, in conjunction with the Office of the SSA on Youths to Mr. President, came together in their drive to proactively engage the youths in a convivial and informal environment, irrespective of religions, party affiliations, and tribes on the need to embrace peace. She is merely emphasizing that it is only through peace that the nation will reap the dividends of democracy and grow to become one of the foremost nations in Africa. This is pointing out our collective responsibility to engage, enlighten and inform the next generation of Nigerians what really went wrong and where we have failed, so as to re-orientate, re-evaluate their mind-sets, change their perceptions and build a new moral “CAN DO” mentality amongst our youths.

As a focal organ, AFLPM, has been in the business of advocating peace in the African continent, it behoves the First Lady to take a critical look and heed the saying, “charity begins at home,” to see how the gospel of peace can be spread in the country, so as to bring us closer more than ever before. That was why the concept of the National Youth Peace Concert, was a well thought out idea that not only preached and advocated peace, but also informed, educated and sensitized the youths on the dangers of vices, war and the negativity of being used as political thugs and puppets in the hands of mischief makers, fifth columnists and political gladiators.

The Peace Summit with the theme; ‘Peace, Unity and Love for National Development,’ had in attendance an array of personalities and eminent Nigerians, who gave their lives to Nigeria in various fields and shared their life experiences with the youths on the importance of peace and harmony. General Gowon, topped the list with Pastor Enoch Adeboye, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Sheik Abdulrahman Ahmad, (National Missioner of Ansarudeen), Chief Imam of Abuja Mosque, (Ustaz Musa Mohammed) and Imam Musa Olaofe (Imam Ansarudeen Central Mosque Abuja).

It was indeed a momentous event, when the General Gowon narrated and highlighted why he did everything possible to keep Nigeria one, in spite of the challenges and the desire by a few to split the country, which was also corroborated by the Christians and Muslims leaders.

They all agreed that the coming together of Nigeria was ordained by the Almighty God and that the youths should be drivers and builders of modern day Nigeria, devoid of acrimony, strife and senseless bloodbath.

They all preached peace, amicable co-existence and charged the Nigerian youths to collectively work for the overall development of Nigeria, saying their future was in their hands.

The peaceful advocacy and razzmatazz was spiced up by notable musicians who were also present at the occasion as part of the youths, conscious of the fact that the youths can easily grasp the values taught through musical rhythms, accentuate with moral messages.

The First Lady in her speech, reeled out our rich history which captured time and time again, the value and contributions of our industrious, committed youths to the development of our dear country, saying that for the first time in Nigeria, we are strategically engaging and working with the youths, “because we believe they are the leaders of tomorrow.”

To drive the nation forward, she said that we must work hand-in-hand with the youths, so as to send the message and gospel of peace to other Nigerians and the grassroots.

Echoing that the success of the event bears an eloquent testimony to the importance the youths placed on this auspicious occasion, she praised their great commitment to the course of the Nigerian nation. Emphasizing it is our collective belief that real and durable democracy can only be achieved through the installation of basic democratic structures and the recognition of roles, which everyone has to play in promoting democracy and peace, she charged the Peace Ambassadors to be role models and to see themselves as change agents that will unite the country by loving one another and having respect for one other. She also highlighted the value orientation, the “Can-Do mentality” and the attitude that will rekindle the desired hope, yearnings, and aspiration of our founding fathers in irrespective of our differences in ideology. According to the convener, Dame Patience Jonathan, the reasons for the concert is to convince the youths that the greatest resources are in the youth population and that through their active and full participation in governance, the country can surmount the challenges that lie ahead.

However, encouraging the youths and various stakeholders to embrace progress and recognize the various efforts made by government to address the economic, social, security, educational, cultural and spiritual needs of everybody, she said that “this interaction today, will empower the youths, carry all major stakeholders and actors along government policies, thereby bringing government closer to the people by providing access to information, so that they can take their rightful places as active agents in decision making and peace building mechanisms.

Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, is the Media Adviser to Nigeria’s First Lady.