Abuja’s day of peace

Coming at a time the whole world is celebrating peace, it is expected that the peaceful atmosphere being experienced in the volatile Niger Delta region since armed militants started disarming in response to the amnesty would persist. But past experiences have shown that each time the militants made concessions and agree to ceasefire deals, violence […]

Coming at a time the whole world is celebrating peace, it is expected that the peaceful atmosphere being experienced in the volatile Niger Delta region since armed militants started disarming in response to the amnesty would persist. But past experiences have shown that each time the militants made concessions and agree to ceasefire deals, violence returned. What, perhaps, is most disturbing is the fact that militants like Henry Okah, who at a point the militants claimed were fighting to secure his freedom, has said they were not fighting for amnesty.

“Certainly not the amnesty, no-one is fighting for amnesty,” Okah told the BBC. With a statement like that coming from a kingpin of one of the major militant groups in the Delta region, it is unclear if the peace that has prevailed since the 4 July attack on Atlas cove in Lagos will be sustained.   

 The day, celebrated September 21 of every year, started 26 years ago (1983). Its purpose, as stated in the United Nations General Assembly resolution, is: “…To devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways… (The International Day of Peace) should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

To inaugurate the day, the “Peace Bell” is rung at United Nations (UN) Headquarters, New York. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as “a reminder of the human cost of war.” The inscription on its side reads: “Long live absolute world peace.”

This year’s ceremonies at UN Headquarters took place with a programme featuring presentations by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, other UN dignitaries and UN Messengers of Peace Jane Goodall and Princess Haya of Jordan.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in an address to the students in observance of the Day said, “It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations today and thank you for taking part from all over the United States. As you know, I just rang the Peace Bell.  I think you saw a broadcast of my remarks.  These can be summarized in three words:  We Must Disarm. I shared some of the messages that we received on Twitter from people just like you – maybe even some people right in this room. I also tweeted some of my own reasons why ‘We Must Disarm’: because the world is over armed and peace is underfunded; because disarmament contributes to development; and because nukes threaten humankind.  Let’s get rid of them for good.

“I sent these messages on Twitter because I want to involve the whole world in the campaign to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.  Not just political leaders but citizens everywhere -including students like you.  You are the future leaders and owners of this planet Earth. Seeing you makes me think of my own days as a student.  We didn’t have modern technology, such as the Internet or compact phones that could take pictures and videos and download music.  Such things seemed like science fiction.  Today they are sometimes taken for granted. In the same way, a nuclear-weapon-free world may seem like a far-off dream, but it is not.”

In commemoration of the day in Abuja, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) organised a special lecture with former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub as the guest lecturer and Hajia Turai Yar’adua as the conveyance of the ‘Main Peace Statement of the Day ’.

Director General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Golwa, who said that the event was the first of its kind in the country, added that years of peace research shows that failure to disarm at any level is a serious threat to peace and sustainable democracy the world over.

While lamenting that since the end of the Second World War, a day hardly passes without a boom of a gun, a blast of a bomb or a death through some weapons of violence, he said, “Today, conflicts or wars are no longer the disaster of professional armies, but then innocent civilian population, the infrastructure and the economic means of survival, all at unimaginable high cost.”

He said that despite the widespread of nuclear arms as possessed by some countries, Africa as a continent has a more grievous menace of proliferation of small arms and light weapons to tackle and lamented that African countries even lack the capacity to effectively address its issues and challenges.

Prof Nuhu Yaqub urged peace activists and peace loving people to work assiduously to ensure that there is nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

He said, “Sixty-four years after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, its fall out is still devastating the area and its inhabitants. The countries that have both the striking and deterrent capacities have the capacity to destroy the world 20 times over; the world must therefore insist on absolute disarmament and non-proliferation.”

First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’adua who in her message advised Nigerian youths to initiate and cultivate a culture of peace in the interest of the society and humanity at large, said that peace must be constantly and consistently promoted as it is the most sought after treasure.

“The International Peace day celebrated every year on September 21st is symbolic as it represents man’s quest for a world where love, peace and mutual respect reign supreme. Peace is perhaps the most sought after treasure by all mankind and for this, it must be constantly and consistently promoted.

“Let us remember those who have fallen in the name of war and other meaningless conflicts. It is our obligation as members of the human race to ensure peace and by so doing pass it down to our children and generations yet unborn as the most worthy legacy of the human race. I especially want to single out the youth and urge them to initiate and cultivate a culture of peace that will be enduring for the benefit of all humanity,” Turai represented by Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Salamatu Suleiman, said.

While saying that the day should not be just for celebration, but also for reflections as past conflicts have devastating effects on humanity, she said that the senseless killings of millions and brutal treatment of particularly women and children call for urgent action to create a more peaceful and sustainable environment.