Nigerians Must Embrace Peace for National Development-Hayab
By Ruth Tene, Abuja
The Country Director, Global Peace Foundation, GPF, and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kaduna branch, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, has called on Nigerians at all levels to embrace Peace, towards promoting national development.
The Peace Advocate, made the call when he led a team of GPF members, to the Palace of the Emir of Garki, as parts of activities to mark the 30 days of activism marking the, International Day of Peace, 2020, with the Theme : “Shaping Peace Together”.
The International Day of Peace held, September 21 annually was established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution. The Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
Reverend Hayab said ‘The international Day of Peace is a month long celebration held around the World and called on the Nigerian government at all levels to not exclude any one on grounds of politics or religion, stating that, that would not enhance the peace”
He said “Efforts for Peace will not work if there is exclusion of some people as a result of politics, ethnicity, religion or gender. It will not work because everybody has a role to play for peace to reign and exclusion will not enhance peace in our nation.
“The government are doing what they know how to do, but probably, they need to do more. For instance we just celebrated the World Peace Day, I expected to see this promotion promoted by government, making it big, because there are people who do not know about peace. He urged the government should organise and take the message of peace to the streets the motor parks and the villages so that everybody can understand and know what this peace is about.
He stated that inclusion allows all to be involved in the struggle for peace and if we all embrace peace, there will be development, but if we fail to embrace peace we will all continue to suffer hardship as non-lovers of peace continue to wreak havoc on our nation.
The country director who described the Emir as a man of peace who had travelled extensively in the search for peace commended the efforts of the Emir for replicating all he has learnt locally. He urged the Emir to set up peace structure among all community groups as everyone was important in the struggle for peace, stressing that I want to see a Nigeria, where my children will be happy and accepted everywhere and it starts with me
In his response, the Emir of Garki (Sapeyi of Garki), His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Usman Nga Kupi urged all “As one family under God to embrace Peace irrespective of tribe, religion and gender”
The Sapeye of Garki charged the rich in the country to support the less privilege and invest in Nigeria to create and enhance job opportunities. If we do not allow peace to reign, posterity will judge us.
The Emir called on politicians, religious leaders and citizens to embrace dialogue so that peace will reign. Nigeria belongs to us all and if we allow peace, it will bring a lot of positive things but if we do not we will have a lot of problems, he said
He also called on terrorists and bandits disturbing the peace to lay down arms for peace to reign
