By Lola Idahosa, kaduna
In pursuance of lasting peace and conflict resolution across Northern Nigeria, the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has called on Nigerian youths to firmly refuse to be used as instruments of electoral fraud, political thuggery and any form of violence before, during and after election, urging them to maintain peace.
This was contained in a six page press statement titled conflict mitigation and peace building (CMPB) project in the states of Kaduna, Bauchi, Nasarawa and Taraba, made available to Newsdiaryonline and signed by its national President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gumungu also called on stakeholders to join AYF in bringing about sustainable peace and socio-economic development in Nigeria.
It stated that AYF has initiated a Conflict Mitigation and Peace Building (CMPB) Project with Kaduna, Taraba, Bauchi and Nasarawa as pilot States.
According to the statement, “the CMPB Project is intended to be a robust engagement of communities in intensive and interactive capacity enhancement in social peace building, which is part of the Forum’s humble contribution to the Federal and State Government’s efforts in addressing security challenges and peace building, especially as we approach the 2015 General Elections, and beyond.
‘The project, which is to run for one (1) year started in October 2014 and is expected to end in September 2015. The CMPB Project is designed to provide a Community framework for healing, conflict mitigation and transformation, dialogue and reassurances that the immediate and remote causes of these problems where being internally tackled at community level by the community.
It said that already, “60 Volunteer Facilitators selected from the four (4) piloting States of Kaduna, Bauchi, Nasarawa and Taraba have gone through an intensive Training of Trainer (ToT) program and who have gone ahead to form Community Dialogue Fora (CDF’s) in twelve (12) selected communities. Each Community Dialogue Forum is made up of thirty (30) indigenous participants from three (3) Senatorial Constituencies of each of the piloting States. The CDF shall facilitate dialogue and discuss Community peace and conflict issues as a vital strategy of the CMPB project.
“Happily, the outcome of the first CDF’s which was held in January 2015 across all the centres was very inspiring as the Communities have embraced it and established ownership of the fora. Each CDF is jointly managed by the community and Arewa Youth Forum.
As part of AYF’s Advocacy component of the CMPB Project to solicit for cooperation, support and blessings, the Project Management Team (PMT) paid visits to all the four piloting States and interacted with community leaders, opinion shapers, leaderships of Jama’atu Nasrul Islam (JNI)/Muslim Council of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other major stakeholders.
The objectives of the project include entrench our core traditional values of accommodation, unity in diversity, mutual trust and respect and brotherhood;
Enhance the State and Federal Government’s intervention and effective engagement with community groups on peace building and conflict mitigation;
Change how people react to issues relating to Religious and communal conflicts, anger management, reprisal attacks, etc. and its effect on the community;
Strengthen the capacity of existing community structures to promote peace and local socio-economic development.;
Establish a formidable network of volunteer pro-active change agents within the communities that shall mentor others in the application of dialogue and conflict mitigation complimented by traditional alternative dispute resolution strategies and community service;
Promote full inclusiveness and effective participation of community groups in the State and Federal Governments peace efforts;
Train and encourage communities to use Dialogue as a better means of conflict resolution at community level;Provide a template for Communities to always dig deep, identify and analyse issues of conflict, dialoguing amicably to resolve them, as well as putting on the table developmental challenges based on needs assessment and proffering solutions that are unique to them; and Reassure residents in the piloting States as well as other parts of the North and Nigeria in general of their inherent capacity to resolve conflict and maintain peace, thereby making the States and indeed Nigeria a haven of peace and a destination of choice for investments.
As part of AYF’s Advocacy component of the CMPB Project to solicit for cooperation, support and blessings, the Project Management Team (PMT) paid visits to all the four piloting States and interacted with community leaders, opinion shapers, leaderships of Jama’atu Nasrul Islam (JNI)/Muslim Council of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other major stakeholders.
The statement however commended the governors of the pilot states Gov. Muktar Ramalan Yero, of Kaduna and the Governor of Bauchi State Isa Yuguda, for his infectious enthusiasm and passion for the CMPB project by graciously declaring the Volunteer Facilitators Training program open, in Bauchi; and to the Government of Bauchi State for identifying and embracing the CMPB to enhance Bauchi Government’s efforts at maintaining stability and peace in Bauchi State. The HRH Alh.(Dr.) Shehu Idris, Emir of Zazzau, CFR, HRH Alh. Dr. Isa Mustapha Agwai I, Emir of Lafia, HRH Alh. Abbass Njidda, Emir of Muri, HRH Alh. Dr.Muhammad Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi, Leaderships of JNI/Muslim Council of Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria and other major stakeholders for finding time out of their busy schedule of competing engagements to grant us audience at courtesy visits.
“We therefore call on all stakeholders both public and private, the vibrant league of patriots all over Nigeria and communities to join the Arewa Youth Forum in our effort to bring about sustainable peace and socio-economic Development in Nigeria through this our humble effort.
We also call on our youths especially in the North, to firmly refuse to be used as instruments of electoral fraud, political thuggery and indeed any form of violence before, during and after the forthcoming elections. Vote peacefully and maintain the peace”.
