As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2021 International Peace Day on Tuesday, Nigerians have been urged to shun divisive comments and to embrace peace in the interest of the progress and development of the country.
The charge was made by the Peace and Social Advancement Centre (PASAC), a non-governmental organization dedicated to peacebuilding and social development in Nigeria in a statement made available to Tribune Online, on Monday.
PASAC called on all Nigerians and non-Nigerians resident in the country to jettison violence and conflict for dialogue and peace.
The call is coming on the heels of the current realities in the country including call and agitation for secession, communal clashes, Fulani-herder crises, perceived superiority of one ethnic group against another, banditry, arson, kidnapping, sexual violence, among other heinous crimes against humanity.
According to the statement, the Executive Director of the centre, Fẹ́mi Adélẹyẹ, appealed to all to shun divisive comments, hate speech and avoid criminal elements who want to destabilise the relative peace the country is enjoying.
Speaking on the 2021 International Peace Day, Adélẹyẹ called for sacrifice towards the country’s recovery from the current challenges hold back and work for more peace and stability of the country.
“Peace and Social Advancement Centre wants to remind Nigerians that no nation can grow and reach her full potentials amidst conflict and instability, hence we all must put peace first in the interests of progress and development of our dear Nigeria. This is the time for us all to unite to build a strong and inclusive institution.
“This year’s International Peace Day is a reminder to government at all levels to put more efforts in combating insecurity and create enabling environments through good governance for socio-economic growth and development, economic opportunities and poverty alleviation in order to ensure a lasting cordiality and peaceful cohabitation among all tribes in the country.”
Tribune Online reports that the International Peace Day celebrated every September 21 is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday. The 2021 edition is tagged, “Recovering for an Equitable and Sustainable World.”
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