From Sani Sule,Jalingo
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Barrister Solomon Dalung has reiterated that the interest of Nigeria as an individual entity must be sacrosanct, pointed out that Justice, fearness and equity are the major ingredients that bring a sustainable peace and development.
Dalung stated this in Wukari local government area of Taraba, during the second annual convention and life achievement Awards, held at Conference hall of the Federal University Wukari.
The forum which was established in 2011 aimed at to collaborate, engage, and partner with bodies, organizations and persons in the promotion of peace, unity, understanding and development through education for enhanced human capacity building.
The Minister of Youth and sports development Solomon Dalung, represented by the Assistant Directory in the ministry Hajiya Amina Muhammad Daraun described the convention as timely, saying that the theme for the forum ‘Sustaining peace, unity and development Through Everything: The way forward’ is apt as it partially complement government’s effort of promoting peaceful coexistence among it’s citizenry irrespective of their tribe, religious and political affiliation.
Chief Solomon Dalung also noted that Justice, fairness and equity are the major ingredients that bring sustainable peace and development, as it is only by so doing that Nigerians can realize the nation of their dream, and posperity will Judge all.
” I enplore you you all to sustain the tempo of using education for as tool for conflict resolution, peace building advocacy and mediation as well as reconciliation to help Nigerian nation achieve greater social cohesion for development and progress”. He said.
In an address, Former Governor of Niger state Alhaji Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and also the Kaigama (Sabeh) of Kwararrafa who was represented by Dr. Salisu Na’inna Danbatta, described education as the backborne of every society, therefore he called on the People of Wukari to encourage their Children to acquire knowledge, as according to him it’s part of their destiny.
“I urge you all to embrace peace and love one another as God has blessed your area with abundant natural resources, i wonder why you are fighting each other, is it the devil or what? So please i begged you to embrace everybody because there was a time when we visited the Emir before the crisis period, i saw Wukari the God had situated the town and i said, if Kano sleep off, so Wukari will take over as the city commerce but you people are playing with what God has blessed you with, my advise is that you should resolved your differences and forge ahead please”. He emphasized.
Earlier in a remark, Chairman of the occasion, Gangum Chanchanji Chief John Mamman while commending Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state as well as other stakeholders who contributed to the restoration of peace not only in Wukari but the state as a whole, also urged the state government to assist them in rebuilding the area which suffered a massive devastation as a result of the crisis.
“It will not be out of place to appeal to His Excellency the Governor for a master plan for a modern City for Wukari and to launch a mini Marshal plan for it’s actualization to avoid Wukari developing into a shanty town”.
“We also note with appreciation, that the state government has started alleviating the sufferings of victims of similar crisis in some parts of the state; it is our great expectation that sooner than later our axis will also be considered for such assistance”.
Chief John Mamman however, congratulated the Executive Members of Wukari Millennium Forum for organizing the convention in which six (6) of it’s illustrius some and daughters that were rewarded with Awards of Excellence for their outstanding track record in public and community service across the nation.
“I wish to also congratulated the Awardees for these honours of of Fame, and to urge them not to rest on that oars”. By the, the literature presented on the profile of this forum has sufficiently portrayed itself as a very serious, forward looking strategic organization that is destined to serve it’s people in the areas of human capacity and peace building for development” he added.
In a goodwill message, Vice Chancellor, University of Wukari represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor academic Mrs. Chibiya Paul Shiggu stressed the need for government at all levels to give more attention to Primary and Secondary Schools, in order to achieve the set goals in the educational sector across Nigeria.
Professor Abubakr Jiddare of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, while presenting a paper on the theme “Sustainable peace, unity and development through education: The way forward” expressedwith dismay over the Wukari crisis, saying that the area is blessed which is the only local government that has five entrance in the whole state, therefore he urge the people of the area which he claimed to be his home too to use that opportunity to embrace peace and love one another, in order to boost their economy instead of living in chaos.
“Let me tell you, no society in the world can develop in a chaos atmosphere and to me there is nothing like indigine and settler, the only difference between them is that an indigine was the first settler that came earlier than the settler, so we should forget about our differences and live together for the development of our state and the nation at large” he emphasized.
Prof. Jiddare also explained that, people most respect the rights of every one and accommodate one ane another, through tolerance, understanding and mutual respect, as according to him no one will ever benefit from violence and discrimination against others.
The university done however, called on the government to include Traditional rulars and community leaders in the Constitution so as to enable them exercise their duties effectively and sufficiently.
“Our Royal fathers, political leaders, religious, ethnic and community leaders should vow to propagate unity and tranquility among all the various identities in Taraba state”.
