A two-day workshop on peace building, reconciliation and climate change has offered stakeholders the opportunity to chart a new path to peace in Benue State.
The workshop, which began in Makurdi, the state capital yesterday, is organised by Benue Peace Commission in collaboration with International Alert to evolve ways to bring lasting solutions to warring communities as well as end farmers/herders’ crisis in Benue.
In his welcome address, the director of International Alert, Paul Nyulaku, commended the efforts of members of the commission headed by Bishop Nathan Nyom and the director-general Josephine Haba for the steps taken to ensure peaceful coexistence in communities across the state.
He said, “I want to commend the Benue State Government and all the stakeholders gathered here this morning to look into ways that will bring back lasting peace in our communities, the core mandate of International Alert is resolving conflict and building peace and we have 25 offices across the globe and in Nigeria. Benue is our focal state and we are working in Makurdi and Agatu local government areas to bring peace.
“We are also working to see how we can address the issue of climate change which is the key drivers of conflict through collective efforts to build peace and social cohesion in communities affected by conflict.”
Also, the director-general National Early Warning Centre, Chris Ngwodo, said as the friend of the state at the federal level he was collaborating with Benue to address the issues which serve as threats to human security and those that affect the wellbeing of people using existing peace building structures.
In a remark, Haba said the aim of the meeting is to bring all stakeholders together to come up with a roadmap through ideas that will direct the commission on what to do, how to do it and where to do it and set up an agenda to be able to leverage on and advice government appropriately.
While calling on government at all level as well as the traditional rulers to include women on the table of discussion for peace he also said, “I am very happy that Benue peace initiative will work again with the presence of the traditional rulers, faith-based organisations as well as the representative of Miyetti Allah and other stakeholders I am seeing, we will surely get there.”
Also, Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, pledged the support of the traditional institutions to the peace building initiatives of the commission to enable it succeed.
Iortyer cautioned the judiciary over passing judgement without consulting the traditional institutions for clarification, adding that some judgements passed by the courts heighten tension.
Some of the leaders of the faith-based organisations including Pastor Akoen Leva and Imam Shaibu Garba pledged to continue to preach peace to ensure religious tolerance in the state.
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