CONCERNED ANAMBRA CITIZENS SPEAK ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
REPORTER: BEN ILECHUKWU
Some concerned people in Anambra State have canvassed peaceful coexistence and conflict resolutions as veritable tools for Nation building.
They stated this as part of the commemoration of the 2022 International Day of Peace in Awka.
According to them, achieving peace entails dialogue and conversation as its guilding principle as well as creating a world in which people are treated equally regardless of their race or tribe.
The theme of this years celebration is “End Racism and Build peace.”
One of them, a Development Communication Expert, Dr. Dennis Ekemezie, explained that individuals have critical roles to play in fostering peace through persuasive dialogue and conversation to engender peace.
Dr. Ekemezie, who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria National Peace Building and Conflict Resolutions of the Rotary International, Anambra State Chapter, advocated peaceful environment among countries.
He noted that his organization being a non governmental institution was instrumental to resolving the Second World War by mediating between the warring countries through the instrumentality of the United Nations.
For a political analyst, Mr. Ebuka Onyekwelu, Nigerians should shun all forms of hate speech, saying that it had the capacity of overheating the polity.
Mr. Onyekwelu also condemned the act of race based discrimination, which he noted, poisoned social structures and continued to deny people of their fundamental human rights.
A Civil Society activist, , Comrade Chris Azor, harped on the importance of peace, saying that it brings about sustainable development.
Comrade Azor, who is also head of Open Good Governance Partnership in the state, emphasized the need for Nigerians to eschew all forms of ethnic, religious differences, hatred and to cultivate the culture of peace.
Other respondents opined the need of imbibing peaceful coexistence in Nigeria as the 2023 General election draws near.
Each 21 September every year is observed as the International Day of Peace around the world.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.
Two decades later, in 2001, the UN General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
