North East problem complex, require robust conflict resolution mechanisms
It has been observed that challenges facing the North East region are complex which require a more robust conflict resolution mechanisms to ensure sustainable peace.
This observation was made by Mr Aliyu Kamara in keynote address titled, “Peace Building and Transitional Justice: An Imperative for Sustainable Development” delivered at a training workshop for Religious, Traditional leaders and Lower Courts Judges in Bauchi.
According to him, stakeholders must play the roles of mediators to reconcile people and settle disputes among individuals and communities to ensure sustainable peace. He lamented that recurring conflicts and disputes usually arising from lingering tensions and unresolved perceived and real injustice as a result of non-accountability and abuses at individuals, levels.
“The North East situation presents a complex situation with familial and community ties between the aggressors and the abused. In other instances, there are cases of breach of trust where individuals or institutions charged with responsibility to protect are the violators, often known to the victims,” he said.
Kamara noted that, insecurity and lack of trust have created gaps which can only be addressed through a holistic and strong sustainable peace building mechanism.
“The culture is one of establishing Panels, Commissions of Inquiries or Task Force with mandates aimed at rendering justice, reconciliation and healing,” he said.
According to him, the North East prior to the insurgency had been grappling with infrastructural deficit, low human communities and other capital, wide poorly governed areas, unemployment and widespread poverty brought about by desertification and receding Lake Chad.
He said that, when the insurgency began, the insurgents began the destruction of public infrastructures like schools, hospitals, markets and places of worship which he said were the hard hit targets.
“However, the most devastating onslaught was on the fabric of social cohesion. Social infrastructure, which underpins and supports collective stake and benefits of peaceful co-existence among the people, was compromised along with other socio-economic activities. People were forced into camps and with the length of stay in these locations came new challenges that broke down values that were the mainstay of co-existence. Perpetrators of violations range from Boko Haram to state and other non-state participants in the conflict,”he added.
Kamara therefore lamented that, the challenges posed by insurgency have eroded values that ensure social cohesion of people in the North East as such it requires rebuilding the social cohesion through collective commitment of its people for peace building.
He therefore assured that, PCNI will continuetopushforindividual,community and institutional contributions to creating sustainable peace in the region.
“Within its leadership and coordinating role, the PCNI has therefore designed a robust programme aimed at rebuilding social cohesion in partnership with key institutions. The overall objective is to strengthen peace building processes leading to resilience and social cohesion within a context of justice and reconciliation,” he added.