By Dr Raphael Ogar Oko
Abuja, May 27, 2015: Nigeria’s outgoing President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, was on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 presented with the award of “Peace Loving Global Citizen” by the Universal Peace Federation, an international NGO with special consultative status at the United Nations ECOSOC during the courtesy visit by the organization led by human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The visit was part of the organization’s one day program for the celebration of peaceful elections and transition 2015.
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Peace Loving Global Citizens recognition is presented to build on the legacy of its founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who stated in his autobiography: “Our thinking must be that all people are our brothers and sisters. We must think of all the world’s problems as our own, and have a pioneering spirit needed to resolve them. When we widen our perspective and live as global citizens, our boundary will encompass the world.”
The UPF Peace Loving Global Citizens are outstanding individuals who affirm the universal principles of living for the sake of others and who dedicate their lives to grow in love and live in peace transcending religious, ethnic and national barriers as they make a commitment to facilitate the fulfillment of the hope of a peaceful and unified world
Prior to the presentation of the award at the Presidential Villa, the Universal Peace Federation – Nigeria organized a special program as celebration of the 2015 peaceful elections and transition from one civil government to another, and in particular from a government in power to an opposition party. This event took place in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital as part of the several activities to mark the transition from the present to the incoming government to be inaugurated on May 29, 2015. The Ambassadors for Peace mobilized from across Nigeria gathered in Abuja and commended the outgoing government as well as congratulated the incoming government and explored strategies of engaging the incoming government to make a commitment to the Peace Vision 2020. The Nigerian Ambassadors for Peace commended the UPF Founders, Dr Sun Myung Moon and Dr Mrs Hak Ja Han Moon for the inspiring vision for world and the commitment to bringing about a peaceful world for all. The Ambassadors for Peace pledge their commitment to working with the UPF at all levels to make the vision of peace a reality.
The celebration began with a 2 hour seminar for the 146 Ambassadors for Peace and FFWPU Nigeria leaders approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria to meet with the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa. The seminar was used to brief the Ambassadors for Peace on the activities of the UPF in Nigeria, Africa and internationally. It provided opportunity for the Ambassadors for Peace to reflect on the involvement of the UPF Nigeria in the general elections that ended peacefully as well as discussions on ideas for the remaining part of the year. Participants were honored and grateful to UPF Africa Regional Office for sending a special representative to the event in Nigeria.
Held at Bayelsa State Guest House, Plot 1038, Shehu Shagari way, Opposite Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, the seminar was used to also induct new members as Ambassadors for Peace. Discussions about the visit to President Jonathan were also part of the seminar. It was resolved that President Goodluck Jonathan be presented with the UPF Founder’s autobiography and a certificate as Peace Loving Global Citizen. In addition, the Ambassadors for Peace supported the decision of UPF International to invite President Jonathan to the forthcoming World Summit in Korea in August 2015. The nomination of President Jonathan to serve as Nigerian representative at the UPF Global Peace Council was unanimously supported.
The delegation departed for the Presidential Villa with Chief Barrister Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, a human right activist and Ambassador for Peace who recently visited South Korea and was at the Sun Moon University as the leader of the delegation. Several VIPs in the delegation included Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of Interior, Senator Aloysius Etok of the National Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Gashash, HRH Dr. Shaban Audu Nizazo III, Etsu of Kwali, several Christian Bishops and Pastors, retired civil servants, traditional rulers, women leaders and leaders of FFWPU Nigeria and UPF Nigeria. The Special Emissary for Africa, Kathy Rigney was represented at the event by Mrs. Evelyn Winter who used the visit to deliver a special invitation to the President of Niger Republic through a representative and also joined the Ambassadors for Peace in honoring the outgoing President Jonathan.
At the Presidential villa in Abuja, the over 100 Ambassadors for Peace, the representative of the Special Emissary for Africa and FFWPU Nigeria leaders were welcome to the president’s meeting room where he was commended for his peaceful conduct as an Ambassador for Peace and recipient of the UPF Leadership and Good Governance award. Chief Ozekhome spoke on behalf of the delegation of Ambassadors for Peace and presented the certificate as Peace Loving Global Citizen to President Jonathan. In addition, the letter of nomination of the president as Nigerian representative at the GPC was presented by the representative of the Africa Regional Chair of UPF, Mrs Evelyn Winter as well as the invitation to attend the world leaders’ summit in August 2015.
The highly elated President thanked the Ambassadors for Peace for the timely visit and emphasized the reason for conceding defeat to his opposition at the elections in April. Among others, he mentioned that he has been guided by the principle of living for the sake of others and never wanted any citizen’s life to be lost for the sake of his aspiration. He has accepted to handover to the opposition candidate for the sake of national peace and unity. The outgoing president pledged his commitment to working with the UPF to facilitate the realization of a peaceful world. As a recipient of the peace loving global citizen recognition, Dr Jonathan promised to use the opportunity of his life to work for peace and build on the legacy of Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the UPF Founder. By this recognition and appointment, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is expected to take responsibility for championing the cause of national peace and unity as well as work with other leaders in the continent and around the world.
The event has been reported by several national radio and television stations in Nigeria.
Dr Raphael Ogar Oko, Secretary General, UPF Nigeria
