As the world celebrate the International Day of Peace, a Non-governmental organisation, African Democratic Development Initiative, religious leaders and stakeholders in Ikorodu Lagos State have advocated for a society that is all inconclusive and violence free.
The celebration was held, today Friday at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat. Reading the message of United Nation Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on the 2017 international day of peace Olusesan Olukoya, Executive Director of AFRIDEVI, said the obligation of the international community is to ensure that everyone forced to flee their homes receives protection.
He said, “the international of peace, observed every year on 21 September, embodies our shared aspiration to end the needless suffering caused by armed conflict. It offers a moment for the people of the world to acknowledge the ties that bind them together, irrespective of their ceasefire, with the hope that one day of peace can lead ultimately to a stilling of the fund”.
“focusing in the plight of refugees and migrants throughout the world. Our obligation as an international community is to ensure that everyone forced to flee their homes receives the protection to which they are entitled under international law. Our duty as a human family is to replace fear with kindness”. The chief Imam of Ikorodu Central mosque, Alhaji Yahaya Oshoala, said the country must always strive for peace.
“What bothers me about the unavailability of peace in the world, is the effect it has on the innocent young children among us that concern me. The legacy we are laying for children is uncalled for” he said. “There is no love, no security and confidence in anyone. What baffles me is that those who are expected to be in custody and of peace, the religious leaders in this country are part of the ills happening in this country, those in the custody of justice, the judges and lawyers are creating havoc in the society, than what we expect”.
“Those in government, that they claim are there for us, are really not respecting us they are self-centered, they claimed to be there for us, but really for their pockets. How do we expect peace when millions are downtrodden and someone is collecting millions of naira and we are expecting peace, that’s impossible”. “Look at some buying cars for N17million each when we have bad roads in country and we expect peace, when those who steal and are caught, and taken to court by the EFCC, they then get free.
Even the president that is trying to make things better is being backslide by people and some in his party. What we don’t have is justice, which is mother of love and love is the mother of peace. You can’t get peace without love, love without justice, what do you mean by justice, it is by giving everyone it dues. The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu chapter, Dr. Emmanuel Adegoke, Shepherd in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, urge religious leaders to always be at the forefront of preaching peace. “no one can see God without having peace in his life.
The Bible also said we should seek peace and pursue it. The condition of people or nation would never change unless they change what is in their mind. How do you peace when you step on people’s life, how can peace come to rein when we make ourselves god over others” he said. “The king, ministers, governors, legislatures, chairmen, imam everyone of us are being drawn into this menace so the ultimate will of Almighty God to mankind is peace. Every church, denomination is suppose to be an ambassador of peace where ever they are”.
The Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji said achieving peace is a collective effort. According to her, “we must know that peace must be be sort by everyone. It is priceless, it is only when we have peace, that everything else will follow, so for us here, we are saying peace, which we all must imbibe, relate with attitude that everything we do, we must try to dialogue and understand each other, think of others” she said.
“There is hope and future, which we all must always work to a achieve peace in our society. Here in Ikorodu, we have done peace rally and parley with enforcement agencies, community leaders and everyone involved to identify to understand the cause of this and let people know that we are accountable to one another”.
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