By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
A non governmental organization (NGO), the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria has said that it’s building a global network of grassroots leaders to develop community,national and regional peace building models for ethical, cohesive and compassionate societies guided by the vision of one family under God.
The Country Director, Global Peace Foundation, Reverend John Joseph Hayab explained that the, “One Family Under God” campaign by the foundation is a values based peace building and conflict prevention initiative that seeks to mitigate sectarian violence by changing attitudes and behaviors that drive identity based conflicts,thereby promoting and sustaining social cohesion among various faiths, ethnic and tribal groups.
The foundation over the weekend, held unity in diversity peace festival in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to Reverend Hayab, “we are in Lapai to do what we call catch them young,it is a challenge that many of our elders during their time,they enjoyed peace with different religion,but now,there is so much division,people are hiding under religion, ethnicity and region using different identities to divide us,” he said.
The Country Director Global Peace Foundation, called on youth, especially school children to say no to division, adding that a divided community cannot progress, a divided community will not succeed.
The cleric stressed that enemies of peace want to divide people, saying that if people were united, they can easily defeat enemies of peace.
His words, “I urge Nigerians to unite across religious,tribal and regional lines,let us be one”.
Reverend Joseph Hayab emphasized that the one family under God campaign is not asking people to abandon their faith, but encourage people to make good use of their faith teachings and tradition to unite as human beings.
The Country Director appreciated Lapai Emirate Council and the people for their support and encouragement throughout the period the foundation have been in the area to set up peace clubs in no fewer than 11 to 12 schools in the local government.
Emir of Lapai, Engineer Umaru Bago Tafida III, thanked the Global Peace Foundation for initiating peace clubs in schools, adding that the move would go along way to fine-tune the educational development of the school children at their early stage.
The monarch prayed for the leadership of the foundation,assuring of the Emirate support at all times.
The Emir was represented by a traditional title holder in the Emirate, Alhaji Umar Makun Lapai.
Imam Ibrahim Idris of Al- Habibiya Islamic Society, Abuja, in his remarks, said as a Muslim organization, they have aligned with the thinking and initiative of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and enjoined Nigerians to live in peace with one another.
Chairman, Peace Reconciliation Committee, Lapai local Government Area, Yusuf Yahaya Isah described the intervention of Global Peace Foundation Nigeria in the area as a step in the right direction, pointing out that the role played by the foundation created more awareness as well as cement the relationship between the indigenous and non indigenous residents in Lapai.
Highlights of the festival were drama presentation, cultural display by different ethnic groups residents in Lapai, parade by Man-Or War as well as march past by different schools.
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