By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz, Regional Correspondent
The United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland groups have organized a right based approach workshop based on the universal periodic review (UPR) to Adamawa civil society groups aimed at addressing discrimination against the vulnerable.
The workshop was centered on ways to address discrimination against minority and vulnerable groups by taking action to discourage politicians from using religious, ethnic, or settler indigenous divisions for political ends.
A communication expert, Mr. Felix Samari who moderated the workshop held in Yola said ’’ the essence is to bring together people irrespective of ethnic or religious background to live in peace with one another.
‘’All hands must be on deck to address discrimination against vulnerable,’’ said he.
He further said that key words are : ‘’ Civil Society and the challenges of peace building in Adamawa state and Northern Nigeria, Religious Harmony in protecting and promotion of human rights and interreligious action for the protection of vulnerable groups and conflict prevention.”
While presenting his speech, the Chairman Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) right-based approach project, Bishop Rev Peter Amana Bartimawus, said UPR is a mechanism good to pursue peaceful and egalitarian society in Adamawa state and beyond.
According to him, ‘’it has become necessary to do so because of the increasing violence and conflicts Nigeria is experiencing.
“This year alone we had to contend with a series of conflicts in communities in Adamawa state such as the Tigno crisis, the Lunguda-Waja conflicts, some pockets of Herders attacks on farmers still unabated.
“I believe that if stakeholders-Christians and Muslims, farmers and Herders and sundry would sit and look together into best ways to live together in peace we will have less of the crisis we are faced with today,” he said
Dr. Stanley Giscard Norris in his presentation said ‘’ peace is being challenged with little or no qualms, whilst peace building was never given a deserved place in the schemes of national conflict resolution mechanism.
“The foregoing elicits attention of civil society organizations towards the institutionalization of peace building as an unavoidable critical national endeavor. This is to build a nation where peace and justice reign.” Giscard said
Dr. Stanley Giscard Norris, Dr. Suleiman Bagirei, Rev Habila Andrew Kakaba, and Bishop Dr. Peter Bart was among the Facilitators.
Our correspondent reports that groups in attendance are leaders of Miyetti Allah and Tapital pulaku, Herders/ farmers Association, Adamawa United Forum (AUF), Lutheran Church for Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) Women for peace, and progress, Youth for peace and progress. Adamawa cooperative Association, Muslims Council, and Jama’atul Nasul Islam.
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