By Amos Aar, Makurdi
A global organisation for peace and development known as Mercy Corps, has appealed to the Benue State House of Assembly to enact a law that will establish a Peace Commission in the state.
A delegation of the organisation led by its Country Director, Mr Ndubisi Anyanwu, made the call on Thursday when they paid a courtesy call on the Benue State House of Assembly, Makurdi. Mr Anyanwu, who thanked the House for granting them audience, said Mercy Corps is a global organisation with presence in about forty (40) countries with the aim of promoting peace and development. He said they have been working with the United Nations, UN, to ensure peace in Kano, Kogi, Benue and other parts that are experiencing crisis.
“We have met with the executive arm and the local government chairmen. It is imperative for us to meet with the legislature to see how we can work together in ensuring peaceful environment.
“We are here to see how we can collaborate with the House on policy recommendation and capacity building. Our organisation pays special attention to capacity building in order to contribute to improving the workings of the Assembly
“We also focus on research that adds value to knowledge in understanding the impact and dynamics of conflicts. We have conducted research on the impact of crisis on the economy of the state.
“Through our previous interventions, we completed a primary health care at Torkula Village in Guma local government area, dug boreholes in some communities, built market stores among other interventions,” Anyanwu said.
On his part, Deputy Minority Whip , Hon. Sani Suleiman, said the visit was important because of the role of the legislature in oversight functions. He therefore appealed to the House to enact a legislation that will put in place a Peace Commission in the state.
Responding, Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Christopher Adaji, assured Mr Anyanwu of the Assembly’s partnership to ensure that they succeed in the implementation of various interventions in the state.
The deputy speaker, who expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit, said where there is need for legislation, the House will cooperate. He told the team that the House had made efforts at restoring peace between farmers and herders by enacting a law which prohibits open grazing of livestock which is in the best interest of both farmers and herders.
In his remark, the Deputy Majority Whip, Hon Peter Onjeh, appealed to the delegation to ensure that the activities of Mercy Corps cut across the three senatorial zones in the state while Hon. Abu Umoru of Apa State Constituency advised that the campaign for peace should be extended to the religious leaders such as pastors and imams who command large followership.
