AMAECHI, OTHERS BAG PEACE AMBASSADOR AWARD
....says Peace key to sustainable development
The Governing Council of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies has conferred Eminent Ambassador of Peace Honorary Awards on the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, including the Governors of Benue, Imo and Niger States for their laudable achievement in the sustenance of peaceful co-existence in the nation’s democracy.
Speaking as Guest Speaker at the 1st Graduation ceremony and Graduation Lecture of the Institute on Saturday in Minna, Niger State, Governor Amaechi congratulated the initiator of the Peace Institute, Abdulsalami Abubakar for setting up the citadel of learning towards sustaining peace and unity in the country.
Amaechi observed that any society without peace, would not experience sustainable development, calling on Nigerians to give peace a chance in the current democratic dispensation and allow dividends of democracy to impact positively on the lives of the people.
“I congratulate Abdulsalami Ababukar for setting up this peace institute, but you must know that where there is no peace, no development will strive, peace is a complex issue, it is ideological, we must not deny our citizens their legitimate rights, by this way, peace comes in and we begin to experience sustainable development”, Amaechi said.
Governor Amaechi also spoke on the need for equitable distribution of the nation’s resources which he said would engender peace in the states of the federation if properly utilized to improve the welfare of the citizens to address the problem of poverty.
“Our resources must experience equitable distribution, living standard in the country is very poor, when you hear about Militancy and Boko Haram, it is essentially the problem of poverty, we must demand from our leadership, an accountable stewardship”, he said.
Speaking further, Amaechi explained the need for more productive economy, respect for human dignity, special fund for education in the North that will be jointly and transparently managed, all inclusive participation in governance and the need for the people to elect leaders of their choice in a free and fair electoral process, as well as promotion of educational advancement in the country.
“We need more productive economy, a special fund for education in the North that will be jointly managed, consultative in governance, and for the people to elect leaders of their choice in a free and fair election, and promotion of education”, Amaechi said.
Governor Amaechi, while recalling the nation’s historical antecedents on transition from Military to Civilian rule, urged elites in the country to always advise leaders to provide the basic amenities and infrastructures including Power, Health, Water and others to improve the living standard of Nigerians generally for peace to prevail.
In his remarks, initiator and Chairman of the Institute, Abdulsalami Abubakar urged Nigerians to support the objectives of the institution to achieve the needed peace in the country.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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