Yemisi Izuora
Leaders of ethnic groups and community-based associations in the South West area have promised to work for peace and the common good of the people. The leaders made the commitment after a summit and training sessions.
The programme was organised under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, West Africa Region and the Journalists for Democratic Rights, (JODER). Representatives of various ethnic, faith-based and community groups living in the South West geo-political zones including Kwara, Kogi and Edo States attended the event.
Some youth leaders of hitherto feuding communities in Ile-Ife, Modakeke and Hausa-Fulani communities, Igbo communities and several pan-Yoruba groups also attended the event.
In his introductory remarks, the JODER Executive Director, Mr Adewale Adeoye said Nigeria has achieved measurable developments since 1999 when she returned to democratic government but those challenges of managing real, imagined and potential conflict remains. He said in most cases when conflict management mechanisms are put in place, the people are often not involved in the stage of conception and implementation while the people also do not promote their own indigenous peaceful resolution mechanisms.
Speaking on behalf of the Dawn Commission, the officer in charge of Regional Integration in the South West, Prince Adeleke Adedoyin said the developments across the country were worrisome adding that the South West could be a bridge builder by mobilizing the various grassroots groups across the region for peaceful co-existence, religious and ethnic harmony.
The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Prof Gbade Ojo said peace in Nigeria can only be anchored on justice and fair play to the contending interests. He commended the Ford Foundation and JODER for the peace initiatives saying the Government of Oyo state is ready to support the new efforts being put in place by the organisers of the Ibadan Conference.
He said conflict prevention is possible is the people are genuinely involved in the processes.
JODER in his presentation had earlier listed the areas of potential conflict in the South West to include but not limited to conflict arising from grazing routes for herdsmen, the incursion of extremism, inter-ethnic brawl, cultism and ethnic skirmish. The group the other major threat is hate speeches and the possible spillover of poorly managed cultural and political configuration at the national and state levels.
The group said the people on their own are the critical stakeholders and that taking a common position on violence and hate-inspired conflict will go a long way to guarantee sustainable development not only in the South West but also in Nigeria at large.
The participants said the programme had achieved the aim of strengthening organizations in peacebuilding and conflict management, high the potential of community and grassroots for peaceful coexistence.