IN SEARCH OF SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN SOUTH- SOUTH COMMUNITIES: I.M.C BERTHED TO ACHIEVE THIS

By Emmanuel Ukpong

A Non-governmental Organization called Inter-Faith Mediation Centre (IMC) has berthed in the South- South Zone of Nigeria to help in peace mediation and restoration of same in various communities in the area. It is an international Non-Governmental peace buildiing Organization, established in May, 1995 in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Its activities, as stated by the Joint Zonal Coordinator for South South zone, Mr Alexander Rustom, while addressing newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state about the organization during the unveiling of the ‘REGIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR ADOPTION’ 2021– 2024 with the Hashtag # WE NEED EACH OTHER, said it activities are designed to restore peace in Communities where such is breached.

It objectives, he added, is to use Religious, Traditional and Community Leaders to achieve peace through dialogue, especially in crisis proned areas.

With the Hastag #WE NEED EACH OTHER, it is a statement of appeal for everyone to consider one another as indispensable in maintaining peace.

Mr Alexander Rustom assured the good people of the zone in a statement that this initiative will achieve its set objectives through dialogue promotion mantra achievable through advocacies, workshops, seminars, awareness creation, media broadcast and stakeholders engagement. The joint Coordinator believes that when these means are adopted and practically implemented, peace will be a common commodity among citizens and residents of south south nigeria, assuring that the organization will soon commence these activities in different States of the zone with the involvement of all states PICs and other stakeholders.

‘It is expected that these initiatives, when practically implemented and meticulously carried out, will ultimately restore peace in troubled and crisis proned areas, enable people to inculcate the principles of peace as well as making them to become example of peace in our Communities’  he assured.

According to Apostle Saviour Francis, the Chief Mobilization Officer (CMO) of IMC/SS ZONE, the Organization will work within the Six States of the South South zone to preach the message of peace using the PEACE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE (PICs) members in each State with the expectations that sustainable peace will be achieved at the long run which in turn will help engender unparalleled development, as he called on South South indigenes and stakeholders of the zone to embrace peace while imploring them to carry the message of peace to every nooks and crannies of the zone for the overall benefits of her people.