By Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani
Abuja – UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has urged all warring parties around the world to observe a 24-hour ceasefire to commemorate the 2016 International Day of Peace.
Ban’s statement was delivered at the commemoration of the Day on Wednesday in Abuja by the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Opia Kumah.
“Every year on the International Day of Peace, the UN calls on warring parties around the world to observe a 24-hour ceasefire.
“But peace is not just about putting weapons aside. It is about building societies where people share the benefits of prosperity on a healthy planet,” he said.
While regretting the sectarian violence around the globe, Ban, however, said it was also an opportunity to build a better world.
“This is a time of turmoil and uncertainty. People fear the next extreme storm, terrorist attack, or outbreak of disease.
“But this is also a time of opportunity to set the world on a better path,” he said.
The secretary-general called on everybody to commit to being an advocate of sustainable development.
“On this International Day of Peace, express your commitment to peace by becoming a champion for the SDGs,” he said.
The Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Prof. Oshita Oshita, explained that violent conflict was linked with poverty and underdevelopment, adding development is impossible without peace.
“Unfortunately, many African countries only plan to use the military and other security agencies to quell violent protests.
“This is instead of planning to build peace and inclusive structures in order to prevent the eruption of violent conflicts,” he said.
Oshita commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s focus on security, economy and anti-corruption represent a direct affront on the enemies of SDGs as building blocks of Peace.
“As we mark the 2016 International Peace Day in Nigeria today, we urge each and every one of us, as Nigerians, to reflect on our own contributions to peace.
“We should also reflect on our lack of contributions in ‘making peace happen’ in our home, the work place, community, and wherever we find ourselves.
“As individuals and as a country, our failure to plan and budget for peace is effectively to undermine this important aspiration of mankind,” he said.
According to him, not mainstreaming peace-building in the national planning and budget of our country is to leave the occurrence of peace to mere chance.
In his remarks, the Enechioken of Abiriba Kingdom, Kalu Ogbu, commended the security personnel and all those who had made sacrifices to ensure peace in the country.
“It is not enough to talk about peace, we must move from talking about peace to working the peace,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2016 Day is: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”.
The Day is commemorated every Sept. 21 in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution 55/282 of September 2002.