Convener Makes Case For Conflict Prevention Over Resolution

The convener, Nigerians Unite Against Terror, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, has urged the African Union Commission, United Nations and other critical stakeholders to prioritise conflict prevention over conflict resolution.
Okei-Odumakin who is also the President, Women Arise for Change initiative, made the appeal while speaking with The Tide source yesterday in Awka on this year’s World Humanitarian Day marked every August 19.
The day is set aside to honour humanitarian efforts worldwide and propagates the idea of supporting those in crisis.
She lamented that in spite of international community’s efforts toward peace-building, the African continent had consistently struggled under the heavy burden of wars in the past couple of decades.
“Even with all their commendable efforts, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Somalia, Mali, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria are among the African states having a fair share of the conflicts that continues to claim lives, particularly, of children and women.
“As we join the global community in commemorating the 2019 World Humanitarian Day, we call on AU, UN and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen their peace-building architecture.
“They can begin to prioritise conflict prevention over conflict resolution,’’ she said.
Okei-Odumakin also appealed to Nigerian political leaders not to take decisions or implement programmes and policies that had the tendency to disrupt the nation’s fragile peace.
“While Nigeria has been under heavy attacks by the Boko Haram terror group since 2009, other conflicts of different magnitudes continue to tear the nation apart with frightening rapidity.
“The Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis, if not diligently and urgently addressed could be another time bomb that may make the Boko Haram war a mere child’s play.