December 14, (THEWILL) – The Initiators of Peace in the Southeast Project (PISE-P), have vowed to engage all influential stakeholders in the region and across the country, to end the ongoing crisis in the Southern part of Nigeria.
Representatives of the Project, who made the vow during a TVC News Breakfast show broadcast from their studio in Abuja, however, advocated a non-kinetic approach to resolving the conflict.
A statement signed by Mary Ikoku, Chairman of the Media and Communications Committee PISE-P, informed that the interactive show on the topic ‘Tackling insecurity in the Southeast’ was part of public sensitisation programmes, initiated by the Peace in the Southeast Project (PISE-P), seeking the resolution of the crises in the region through peaceful dialogue.
One of the speakers, Elisha Karu, from Gombe State, revealed that the insecurity in the Southeast is also affecting all parts of the country and described the nature of the conflict as an ‘identity crisis’
He traced the origin of the raging conflict in the southeast, which has lingered for two years, to the failure of the Federal Government to respond through dialogue to the popular grievances and community concerns of the region’s people.
“We blame the problem on the lack of response to the popular grievances raised by individuals and groups from the region. Whatever affects the region affects the nation”, he stressed.
Insisting on a non-kinetic approach to ending the conflict, Karu observed that the military approach using force has failed and hence requires the use of dialogue to settle the grievances of the people of the region.
PISE-P Head of Media, Mrs Mary Ikoku, who was part of the panel, lamented the costly impact of the insecurity situation, saying that Southeast is losing billions of Naira daily to the crises.
She frowned at the activities of Non-state Actors, who are terrorising their people, reiterating the need for dialogue to end the conflict.
Her words: “The non-kinetic approach is taking into cognisance the culture of the people, their behavioural pattern and we say to engage them in dialogue, have a better understanding of what their issues are and address them to bring back Southeast to the glorious past of how the region used to be”
The panellists stated that PISE-P aims to engage critical stakeholders with significant influence within the region to reverse the problems.
According to Mrs Ikoku, the project is receiving vast acceptance from across the stakeholders, clarifying that when peace is achieved, the project will rely on the seven pillars of the project as tools for rebuilding the battered economy of the region.
“We are looking into the seven to eight pillars of the PISE-P, such as; the building of tech-hubs across the region, resuscitation of the apprentice system of mentorship known to the Igbos, the development of Agriculture, Entertainment, Transportation, culture and tourism in addition to provision of good leadership”, she added.
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