By Andrew Oota
Dr Ngozi Orabueze , Chief Staff to the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, is of the strong view that women are not only indispensable but also play role in peace building.
She made this stand at the global audience of over 160 countries, at the 2024 HWPL/International Women’s Peace Conference.
She told her audience that women very often,are the ones shouldering the greatest burdens in times of conflict yet playing a crucial role in fostering reconciliation and social harmony.
Dr. Orabueze maintained that “peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.”
She underscored the need for justice for the lives lost in violent ethnic and tribal conflicts, for the displaced indigenous Nigerians, and for marginalized Biafrans in southeastern Nigeria.
She condemned the continued subjugation of Biafrans, drawing attention to the Nigerian government’s use of military force, resulting in extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the region.
Dr. Orabueze called on the international community to support the inalienable rights of all people, particularly the right to self-determination.
Her plea for peace and dialogue emphasized the urgency of ending the ongoing violence, oppression, and displacement of innocent civilians.
“The Biafra Republic Government in Exile, under the leadership of Prime Minister Simon Ekpa, recently held a referendum in which over 50 million Biafrans voted to secede from Nigeria.
“The results of this referendum will culminate in the official declaration of the United States of Biafra in Finland on December 2, 2024.”
Dr. Orabueze’s message resonated with many at the conference, as she stressed that women must remain central to peace initiatives.
“Their ability to nurture understanding, patience, and resilience makes them indispensable in any effort to build lasting peace.
Her speech concluded with a strong call to end the brutality and conflict, advocating instead for a compassionate approach that prioritizes dialogue and justice for all affected communities.
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