Abdulsalami: Africa Must Stop Using Force to Maintain Peace

General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Nigeria’s former Head of State, has stated that African countries must abandon the use of force to maintain peace.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has also advised Nigerian leaders to recognize the interests of all citizens in order to create a united society free of agitation, divisiveness, and dissatisfaction.

According to the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, Abdulsalami has brought dignity to Nigeria’s election process through the National Peace Committee, and he merits the Nobel Peace Prize for doing so.

Abubakar stated this at a seminar held in his honor in Abuja yesterday.
The former head of state said the continent is still dealing with “conflicts of many types,” which he described as one of the region’s greatest difficulties.
He urged African governments to use “constructive engagement” rather than force to resolve conflicts.

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“Africa as a continent has not been devoid of conflict; indeed, conflicts of all types continue to be one of Africa’s greatest difficulties,” he stated.

“Conflicts continue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Southern Sudan, Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique, Libya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, to name a few.”

“As a result, as African leaders, we must be steadfast and possess a strong political will to tackle these conflicts and other developmental issues that our continent faces.”

As a result, maintaining peace should be a never-ending process, and we must adapt our approach to maintaining peace through the use of force.

“Rather, we should seek constructive contact with a variety of stakeholders to enhance our understanding of the issues at hand.”

He praised the National Peace Committee (NPC) for its contributions to restoring sanity to Nigeria’s political system, as well as Nigerians’ faith in the committee.
Meanwhile, Kukah stated that Abdulsalami has brought dignity to Nigeria’s electoral process through the National Peace Committee, and that he merits the Nobel Peace Prize for doing so.

According to Kukah, the peace committee’s mandate was for the 2015 elections, but the committee’s mandate was extended due to the former president’s trustworthiness.
The bishop, who also serves as the committee’s secretary, stated that all stakeholders in the country’s political process agreed that the committee’s mandate should be continued after the 2015 elections.

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“We want to thank General Abdulsalami on behalf of the peace committee because he has brought dignity to the election and electoral processes,” he stated.
“Because we work closely with INEC, we’re getting calls from all over the place.”

“The name of the peace committee when it was established was peace committee for the 2015 elections.”

The plan was for everyone to return home following the 2015 elections. We decided to remark, “Are we to shake hands and go home?” when we were through. “Look, let’s sit down together,” we said. When we suggested that we ask Nigerians what they think about the peace committee’s efforts, General Abdulsalami was nice enough to agree.

“We contacted the media, civil society, and the two parties’ BOT, and we went to visit the president, speaker, senate president, and President Goodluck Jonathan.”

“Everyone said the peace committee had to stay, and we could have gone home, but I believe we are still staying because of General Abdulsalami’s credibility.”
He also tipped Abdulsalami for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying it has been a long time since he has won the coveted award.

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“I believe, but I don’t know how,” he continued, “but I believe the next campaign that all of us must now wait for is to work hard because the Nobel Peace Prize is long overdue.”
“As far as we’re concerned, General Abdulsalami is a Nobel laureate; all we need now is for those who received the prize to stamp their authority over what we’ve already agreed on.”

Jonathan calls on Nigerian leaders to unite the country.

Meanwhile, former President Jonathan has encouraged Nigerian authorities to cherish the interests of all citizens in order to create a united society free of agitation, divisiveness, and dissatisfaction.

When he escorted members of the 1981 pioneer group of the University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association on a visit to King Amalate Turner, Obigbo Mikimiki 1, the Obanema (traditional monarch) of Opume Kingdom in Opume, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, he spoke.
Jonathan stated that Nigeria is endowed with both human and natural resources, which can only be appreciated in a peaceful environment.

He advised officials to put more emphasis on creating a cohesive nation in which no one civilization or tribe is treasured more than the others.

“Leaders should focus more on uniting Nigerians,” Jonathan said. If one culture, group of people, or tribe is valued more than the other, there is certain to be discord and disillusionment among those who do not believe they are being treated with the respect and value they deserve.”

The reunion was part of alumni activities aimed at fostering bonds among old classmates, according to the former President, who is an alumnus and a member of UNIPORT’s pioneer graduate class of 1981.

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He further stated that the reunion will serve as a forum for them to discuss issues impacting their Alma Mater and to contribute back to the institution and society as a whole.

King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the first former military governor of old Rivers State and Amayanabo (King) of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State, spoke at the Aridolf Hotel in Yenagoa during a lecture on the Unique UNIPORT ’81 Reunion, saying the founding of the University of Port Harcourt was not an easy task because many interests worked against it at the outset.

He did, however, commend previous military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.) for his bold and courageous acts in bringing UNIPORT into being.