Right Leadership, Citizens Cooperation Essential For Peaceful Coexistence – Gen Agwai

The chairman of the Middle Belt Brain Trust (MBBT) and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Agwai (rtd) has stated that the number of internal crises being experienced in several countries globally has exceeded the number of conflicts of external aggressions.

He also identified the causes of conflicts in the society to include the tendency by people to copy what they see on social media.

According to him, this has made it imperative for the right leadership to be placed at various units of government in order to prevent such crises before they get out of hand.

Gen Agwai who spoke at a two-day conflict sensitivity training for local government chairman and top LG officials which held in Pankshin, Plateau State said leadership plays a key role in attaining peaceful coexistence in communities.

“The world has become a global village

People can view developments from everywhere through the social media and this has come with its challenges,” he stated adding that one of the challenges of the social media on security is the copy cat syndrome where he said people tend to copy what they see happening in other climes.

He recalled that when he was Chief of Army Staff and was in the process of transforming the Nigerian army he noted the changing nature of violent conflicts where people tie explosives on themselves and detonate them to exert damage on others but said it cannot happen in Nigeria as Nigerians love themselves but shortly after that, it started happening in Nigeria.

He said internal distress has become so alarming and not restricted to developing countries as even develop countries like the US had to battle with it.

“Before the concentration is to fight other countries but what we have now are internal challenges to the extent that countries have destroyed what they built with their own hands and internally displaced persons,” he said.

Gen Agwai said security is a requisite for development as the two go hand in hand and advised the local government chairmen to ensure they provide the two, saying they are fundamental to providing the right leadership.

He said that to ensure peaceful coexistence, leaders must ensure equity, fairness, and inclusivity, adding that what they spend on maintaining peace is far less than what they would spend on resolving conflicts. He admonished the local government chairmen to show leadership on all occasions, stressing that in the event that they cannot do some, they should delegate responsibilities.

Meanwhile, former vice chancellor of Veritas University, Prof Mike Kwanashie, who served as one of the resource persons at the workshop, said new methods are needed by leaders at all levels to avoid conflicts and ensure security of lives and property.