Stakeholders Urge Nigerians to Embrace Peace for Sustainable Development

At the 17th anniversary of the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), which coincided with the anniversary of International Day of Peace, stakeholders in the justice sector urged Nigerians to embrace peace for the country to achieve sustainable political and economic development.

According to The Nation, the stakeholders are: Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Justice Habib Abiru of the Court of Appeal, who chaired the occasion, Justice Atinuke Oluyemi, Justice  Olusola Williams, former Ogun State Attorney-General and Commisssioner for Justice, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), Lagos State Solicitor-General, Mrs, Funlola Odunlami , Permanent Secretary, Office of the Chief of Staff, Governor’s office, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye and  Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, among others.

Also, The Nation reports that Governor Ambode, who was represented by Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Seye Oladejo, noted that development cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty. He emphasised the need for all to work for peace by toeing the line of non-violence in resolving differences.

He lamented that the issues of insurgency, kidnapping, separatist agitation, destruction of critical national assets among others, have continued to pose serious threat to the peaceful co-existence among the people.

The governor said: “Violence does not build, it destroys and retards development”.

He said the establishment of the CMC has been very effective in peaceful resolution of disputes pointing out that his administration will strengthen the capacity of the centre and bring its services closer to the people in all the local government and local development areas of the state.

In addition, The Nation reports that Mr. Ogunde, who spoke on “Sustaining development goals as building blocks for peace” expressed disgust at the activities of those promoting seperationist agenda in the country. He pointed out that such elements have been responsible for the balkanisation of the country.

The former Attorney-General of Ogun State warned that breaking the country into smaller units would not engender peace and sustainable development and cited developments in Yugoslavia to buttress his argument.

Ogunde also described federal character as a concept entrenched in the constitution to force peace on the people and manage the country’s weaknesses.

Ogunde advised governments to gear foundational and fundamental efforts at making every Nigerian to buy into what he described as “the concept called Nigeria”.

Source: The Nation