PEACE INITIATIVE /IMO

WE MUST UNITE PEOPLE AGAINST EXPERIENCES OF 2023 ELECTIONS — ABDULSALAM

REPORTER: CHIMA MELETE

A former Nigerian military President, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abubakar, wants Nigerians to always promote peace in order to enhance social integration in the country.

Alhaji Abubakar, who is the Chairman, National Peace Committee, made the call in a message to a workshop on “Strengthening Social Integration and Peace Initiative in Imo State.”

Represented by the Project Manager of the National Peace Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Nkanta, the former President noted that it was time to pursue measures that unite the people against experiences at last elections in the country.

“The function of building a better Nigeria and Imo State, lies not only on the shoulders of the leaders, but also in the arms of the followers, everyone has a role to play,” he stated.

Mr. Nkanata, while stressing on the need for collaboration and partnership for national development, called for continuous education at the grassroots.

In his assertions at the workshop, the Chairman, Independent State Based Peace Architecture (ISPA) Imo State, Professor Philip Ogbonna, noted that navigating through pathways to promote peace and social integration required total overhauling of the country’s judicial system to enhance efforts towards delivering electoral justice in the country.

“Failure in our judicial system is a serious setback, if our judicial system gets it right, all the nonsense will not continue,” Prof. Ogbonna argued.

Professor Ogbonna maintained that electoral injustice could only be amended through education of the minds and character of the people, so as to avoid more hurts, injuries and unnecessary deaths.

Other participants, who spoke with Radio Nigeria, stressed the need for intentional policies on the rights and privileges for special citizens and women in the society.

The workshop tagged “From Polls to Peace” organized by the National Peace Committee was attended by members of the Civil Society, party leaders, legal practitioners and other citizens.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU