Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini has lamented that despite the much talks about peace in the world, conflicts still abound and ravaging humanity.
In a statement to commemorate this year’s International Day of Peace, which was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, Prof. Kunini recalled that the UN had invited all nations and people to honour cessation of hostilities during the Day, using education and public awareness on issues related to peace.
The UN General Assembly designated 21st September every year as a period of non-violence and ceasefire in war-torn zones. The theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is “End Racism. Build Peace”.
According to the UN General Assembly, people all over the world have been invited to make concerted efforts towards a world free of racism and racial discrimination; a world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred; a world that all and sundry could be proud of.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres stressed: “Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments”.
On this year’s International Day of Peace, the Taraba State Speaker said: “Peace is inevitable and imperative; without peace no nation or people can move forward.
“A society without peace is akin to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is brutish, barbaric, short, dull and nasty.
“Ironically, what is happening in the world today is so much talks about peace, but conflicts prevail, thereby making world peace elusive”.
The Speaker further stated that no serious nation pays lip service to issues of peace and security, hence Nigeria not an exception.
“Lack of peace and security in Nigeria can be attributed to some factors which include poor government policies, corruption, poverty, unemployment, poor leadership, weak judicial system and complicity on the part of the security agencies.
“With these prevailing factors in the country, hostilities will not go away in our life time, just as our great expectations of peace will not go away either.
“Therefore, appropriate authorities should take necessary measures to recognize looming conflicts earlier and fashion strategies to prevent destructive escalation of such conflicts which often threaten peace and peaceful coexistence in the country”, the Speaker explained.
