BENUE State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said that all forms of crises bedeviling the state will be reduced to a minimum level in a few months from now.
Governor Alia gave the assurances Thursday, 22nd September, 2023, when he interfaced with a group of civil society organisations who were at Government House, Makurdi at his own instance to commemorate the International Peace Day 2023, under the theme: “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #Global Goals.”
Alia, who charged the people of the state to be peace agents, asserted that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony, understanding and justice which lays a solid foundation upon which progress, stability and prosperity are built.
“Preach peace and carry out peace as people of peace”, he urged.
Towards achieving peace in Benue, Rev. Fr. Alia said his administration has taken proactive steps by institutionalising a framework to support peace-building, peace enforcement and interface with a plethora of local and international organisations including agencies of the United Nations with the aim of establishing a robust foundation for the institutionalisation of peace building.
According to him, “this interface is currently yielding positive results and in a few months from now, violent conflicts will be reduced to a very minimum level.”
The governor added that the state government is, among other efforts, strengthening its Commission for Peace and Reconciliation and the commission is presently working on peace initiatives “including that of creating the right atmosphere for the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons in the state.”
He explained that as part of engaging the stakeholders, his administration has visited some crisis-stricken areas both within and outside the state including Konshisha, Oju (in Benue) as well as Ebonyi and Cross River states to settle crises in those areas.
The governor charged Benue people to “say something” when they see anything that will negate peace so as to save lives.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s government for its unwavering peace efforts not just in Nigeria but Africa at large within a short period in power.
Stickers bearing “talk peace and walk peace” as well as t-shirts with the same inscriptions were presented to Governor Alia and his deputy, Sam Ode, by the Team Lead of the 2023 International Peace Day in Benue State, Josephine Habba, who acknowledged that Alia was the first Benue governor to interface with CSOs on International Peace Day.
The pioneer Director General (DG) of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation explained that the International Day of Peace is a UN creation for everyone to ceasefire for at least 24 hours to preach peace and stressed the need for peace to be embraced by all and sundry to create room for development.
Earlier, the state coordinator, Community of Practice for Peace and Security, Justin Gbagir, said as key partners, they were committed to ensuring peace in Benue State and assured that the synergy will be sustained to move the state forward.
In his remarks, Mr Terseer Bamber, Senior Program Officer, Community Initiatives to Promote Peace Project (CIPP) by Mercy Corps and partners, funded by USAID, urged the NGOs to continue to support Mercy Corps in Benue State when CIPP project ends next year, April 2024.
He explained that CIPP aims at building the capacity of community members to enable them take decisions concerning their security, promote peace in their localities in order to achieve global peace.
In their separate goodwill messages other non-governmental organisations including, Benue Non-Governmental Organization Network (BENGONET), Benue Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Industry (BECCIMA), all called on the state government to expedite action for the return of IDPs to their ancestral homes.
Prior to the interface with the governor, the CSOs and NGOs undertook a peace walk from High-level roundabout, Makurdi to Government House, Makurdi as part of activities marking the day.
