By Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko
The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace has been launched at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria with a focus on the theme “The Role of Parliamentarians in Creating a Culture of Sustainable Peace”. The launch was held on Monday, June 5, 2017, at the Senate Wing of the National Assembly, Abujawith over 220 participants from across the country including parliamentarians from the local, state and national assemblies, traditional and religious leaders as well as Ambassadors for Peace in attendance. The launch was held in collaboration with the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence under the sponsorship of Distinguished Senator MuhammaduShaabaLafiaji, and House Committee on Human Rightsunder the sponsorship of HonourablePwajok Edward Gyang.There was atotal 227 participants in attendance.
The launch focused on the role of parliamentarians in creating a culture of sustainable peace with discussions on the issues of interreligious harmony and cooperation and the need for a peace code of conduct, a peace curriculum of education and a national peace constitution for the nation. The program was coordinated by Dr Raphael Ogar Oko, Secretary General, UPF Nigeria. The event began with general recognition and introduction of some participants from across the country. Oba Emmanuel led the national anthem which was preceded by an opening interfaith invocation by representatives of Islam, Christianity, Unification Movement and Hare Krishna movement.
The event was chaired by Hon Pwajock Edward Gyang who represents Jos South East Federal Constituency of Plateau State at the Federal House of Representatives. Hon Pwajock, in his welcoming address stated that IAPP could not have come at a better time than now, given the numerous challenges facing the country: economic issues that create tensions, socio-political unrests that cause destruction of lives and property and the displacement of people. He said IIAP will provide parliamentarians the forum to focus on the pursuit of peace. He praised the UPF Founders for their love and sacrifice in establishing many peace organizations such as IAPP to point people in the direction of Peace and thus realize a peaceful world.
Senator Ibrahim Mantu , Chairman of UPF Nigeria and former Deputy President of the Senate also praised the UPF Founders for establishing IAPP. He said he believed the new association will carry with it the spiritual energy and passion of the founders toward the realization of a peaceful society, nation and world. “…the IAPP will be a forum where current and former parliamentarians can interact: current parliamentarians will be able to gain important insights and mentoring from former parliamentarians in an organized but non-partisan setting with a view to a wider dissemination of best practices”, he said. As he was unavoidably absent, his speech was read by Dr George C. Ikpot, Secretary General of Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA) Nigeria.
An introductory video showing the inauguration of IAPP in Korea and around the world captured the attention of the audience.
Hon Ben Nwankwo, representing Orumba North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State gave a rousing speech in which he urged Nigerians to do more nation-building than playing politics. He said he believed peace is achievable in Nigeria if we heed the words of our founding National Anthem: “Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand.” He said, in conclusion, that as a parliamentarian he had found the meaning of IAPP for himself: I Am Peace Personified and thanked the founders for establishing this wonderful movement.
Goodwill messages were presented by several personalities. Mrs. Esther EghobamienMshelia representing the Honorable Minister for Women Affairs, Senator Mrs. Aisha JumaiAlhassan, drawing attention to about 1.2 million persons (mostly women and children) displaced in the North-East, enjoined parliamentarians to make laws that protect women from violence of any kind. She noted that gender inequality is still a serious problem in our part of the world and this is an area to which parliamentarians must pay serious attention.
Mr. Justin IbezimAgudosi from Lagos, representing the business community, said that each of us should consider ourselves as ‘parliamentarians’ in the sense that we can all contribute to making laws that are conducive to peaceful living. Business people should contribute to peace by investing in peacebuilding, he said. He submitted that parliamentarians should consider laws that make it mandatory for businesses to make such contributions and that IAPP would be a perfect forum where proposals forsuch laws could be well articulated.
Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Gashash, an Ambassador for Peace from Kaduna Stateon his part stated that if parliamentarians paid attention to issues that militate against peaceful co-existence, we will indeed achieve sustainable peace.
Her ExcellencyAmbassador Aisha Audu Emeje, wife of a former governor of Kogi State read True Mother’s inaugural address. In that address True MotherHakJa Han Moon emphasized the role of parliamentarians and encouraged them to form the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) centered on the principle of living for the sake of others and centered on God our Heavenly Parent.
To end the opening session, in the parliamentary tradition, the Speaker of Abaji Local Government Assembly, Hon AbubakarSadiqYahaya was asked to lead the movement of a motion for the establishment of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, Nigeria Chapter. “Those in support of the motion, say, ‘Aye’; “aye”, those against, say “Nay” …. The Ayes had it, he said. So the IAPP Nigeria chapter was formally established. All participants singed a resolution of adoption of the proposal for the establishment of IAPP.
The second session to address the theme – “The Role of Parliamentarians in Creating a Culture of Sustainable Peace” started with a presentation on Divine Principle and the Family Blessing given by FFWPU National Leader, Rev George M. Ogurie. The presentation covered the 5 universal principles of peace and the Blessing as a flagship activity of the founders of UPF and IAPP. He explained that the Blessing which is given by True Parents is a fundamental foundation for the peace we all yearn for, from the family level to the national and world levels. He said that even in our present circumstance, the Blessing which strongly encourages inter-ethnic, inter-cultural and international marriages is a potent tool for national unity and integration. He invited everyone to participate in the Blessing.
His Royal Highness AlhajiAuduShabanNizazo III, the Etsu of Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory appreciated the works of UPF in the country over the years. He noted that of the three tiers of government – namely, Federal, State and Local, – local administration has been mostly robbed of its authority. This state of affairs has not augured well for development at the grassroots since the local administration has been quite ineffective in the provision of basic services, he noted. He therefore expressed satisfaction for the inclusion of local parliamentarians in the membership of IAPP and hoped that it can be a step toward redressing the imbalance in capacity of local parliamentarians, vis-à-vis the other tiers of government.
To conclude the proceedings, Hon Pwajock Edward Gyang thanked all the speakers and participants for their sacrifices in travelling long distance from across the country to attend this important launching at the National Assembly. He said it was an indication of seriousness in everyone to address issues that will bring about peace in the nation. He shared his experience while attending a similar launching of IAPP in Washington DC last December and testified to the caliber of people who came from around the world. He once again praised the founders for bringing together the crop of serious minded and peace-loving leaders to establish such an organization.
UPF Nigeria Secretary General, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, who served as the MC of the event announced the presentation of Peace Loving Global Citizens Award certification to the Senate President, Senator BukolaSaraki. The certificate was presented and received on his behalf by his Senior Legislative Assistant. Ambassador for Peace certificates were also presented to nine distinguished personalities, including Federal, States and Local Council parliamentarians.Dr. Oko announced that in the near future, zonal chapters of IAPP will be launched in the six geopolitical zones of the country to give the new association a national spread. The event was reported on national radio stations and TV stations too as well as local newspapers. With the successful launch of the IAPP at the National Assembly in Abuja, all is now set for a nationwide mobilization of parliamentarians in Nigeria to join the movement as well as development of programs to build capacity of parliamentarians to work together for peace and to connect them to information, each other and resources for peace building. Photos of the event are available online via https://goo.gl/photos/23ZD6BnxDGQpZk5D9
Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko is the Secretary General, UPF Nigeria
