PROF. Oshita Oshita, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolutions (IPCR), says dialogue remains the best option to achieving peace in any societyOshita said this in Kaduna over the weekend during a stakeholders’ forum on peaceful 2015 elections.
The dialogue was organized by the institute in partnership with United Nations Development Programme and other development partners.
Oshita was represented at the event by Mr. Emmanuel Mamman, Deputy Director, Research and Policy Analysis in the institute.
“Those who want to destroy this country won’t succeed. So we are telling ourselves to be peaceful because there’s no alternative to peace.
“This dialogue is to sensitize one another on the need to identify likely causes of electoral conflicts in each state of the federation and how we can prevent them.“We are identifying individuals and agencies that can be instrumental to the achievement of free, fair and credible elections in the states and country at large.
“The dialogue is to appeal to our collective conscience to see how things can be done in a better way in this country”, he said.
Hajia Sa’adatu Kashim, Kano State head of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) said as mothers members of the association would always support any effort that would promote peace nationwide.
Kashim said members of the association had been sensitising their husbands, children and other relations on the need to shun violence and embrace dialogue.
“When we go back to Kano, we will organise a peaceful rally from the Emir’s Palace to the Government House to sensitise the people on violence-free 2015 elections.
Dr Ayuba Umar, who represented Yakamata Development Initiative, Sokoto, a civil society organisation, called on the citizenry to resist being used by politicians to perpetuate violence.
Mrs. Rose Opawoye, who spoke on behalf of Inter-Faith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women Groups, Kaduna State, said the forum had embarked on series of campaigns to raise awareness on violence-free elections.
“Women are, by their nature, mothers and custodian of the culture of peace. When we interact, we sensitize each other to the need for non-violence. We take the message down to the grassroots.
“We held interactive sessions for Imams and Pastors who take the message back to their followers.
“The religious leaders are very powerful; they can incite or quench violence through their preaching,” she said.
PROF. Oshita Oshita, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolutions (IPCR)
