Religious, traditional, and community leaders and guest speakers have urged people of Borno to embrace unity, forgiveness, tolerance, patience and reconciliation in order for peace to permanently return to the state .
The leaders and stakeholders also enjoined the people to follow the foot steps of the Messengers of God , Prophet Muhammad SAW and Jesus Christ whose examplary life style and love for the people , empathy , tolerance , honesty and endurance were virtues worthy of emulation .
The stakeholders made the call on Monday at an event in Maiduguri to mark the 2021 International Day of Peace which was organized by Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development in collaboration with International Civil Action Network (ICAAN) and Global Fund for Women (GFW).
They, further, called on the government to intervene and support the efforts of NGOs, FBI, CBOs, Jire Dole Network Members, Christain Youths Association, Muslim Students Society, Women in Dawah, Widows and Orphans Associations among others
The Executive Directive, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hajiya Amsatu Allamin in her welcome address, said the foundation aimed at securing Informed and peaceful societies through which sustainable live and good governance as well as development thrive.
She added that the foundation envisions a society where sustained peaceful co-existence is entrenched to significantly reduce the entrenched culture of silence in the society and empower stakeholders to take responsibility of managing their conflicts and grievances in a non violent manner.
Hajiya Amsatu charged the youths as up coming stakeholders in the peace process who were involved in the crisis at the beginning and very instrumental in the fight against the insurgency as well as key players in the post insurgency peace building era where their contributions and support are enormous
She, however, lamented the effects of the insurgency on women and children who have been rendered widows and orphans and are in need of assistance from both governments, NGOs and corporate organizations as well as individuals to earn a better living and livelihoods.
The ED also charged the media to play their role as stakeholders in disseminating and propagating the need for peace and forgiveness as well as togetherness among people in the society while acknowledging the support and cooperation of all networks and organizations in the peace process in the state.
Professor Kamal Dawud of The Department of Sharia Law, Faculty of Law, University of Michigan spoke extensively on the need for forgiveness, understanding, love, tolerance and peace building among people in the society, stressing that, after every war there is reconcilators and forgiveness in order for peace, unity, development and progress to prevail in the society.
He also emphasized that in every society, youths okay a vital role and are very influential and can be easily manipulated by the elites, politicians, I individuals and organizations to cause violence, root, rampage, crisis or disturbance irrespective of religion and ethnicity.
Professor Dawuud called on political, religious and traditional as well the community leaders to rethink and shun misleading their subjects and misinforming them to forment trouble or cause any havoc in th society while urging the youths to key into the peace process and peace building reform systems.
He however noted that government need to address poverty and unemployment to achieve absolute peace as such will drastically also reduce socio economic challenges that are factors of societal degradation.
Reverence Balami Ali of Pentecostal Believers Convenant Church (PBCC), Maiduguri said peace is personal and Jesus Christ way of life is simplicity, honesty and love for all. Christains are peace makers and children of God anywhere they may find themselves as followers
Reverend Ali said Borno state deserved peace and repentants deserve forgiveness but with all honesty and sincerity to live peaceful with people without any hypocrisy.
Similarly, Sheikh Mohammed Shugaba of Umama Malik Islamic School Maiduguri said Islam is peace and the Messenger SAW started it all in Madina when he migrated from Mecca to Madina and met different religions and ethnic groups living in Madina.
The cleric said a constitution on how everybody will live in peace with one another was drafted as peace accord and same system was adopted by the CJTF in Maiduguri, stressing that, Islam does not allow blood shed, killings, destruction and crimes as the religion of christainity .
He charged both Muslims and christains to live in peace and love with one another citing the books of Bukhari, Muslim, Malik, Shafii and Trimidhi on peace building.
Other spokespersons include Abubakar Sadiq of JIBWIS, Titiloye of Chirtauns Youths Fellowship, Ibhahim Mohammed of Youths Group, District Head if Shehuri North and Dima of Borno, Dima Zubairu, ASP Williams , GRA Police Station, Asabe Ladako of Christains Widows , Aisha Aisami of Women in Dawah, Hajiya Gana Suleiman of Jire Dole Network and MUSTAPHA Bukar of CJTF Borno among others.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
Leave a Reply