COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY AKWA IBOM PEACE
SUMMIT ORGANIZE BY COALITION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE HELD AT UYO COUNCIL HALL, UYO
ON 21ST FEBRUARY, 2014.
PREAMBLE
The one day Akwa Ibom Peace Summit was organized by a
Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations and Community-Based Organizations
in Akwa Ibom State aimed at achieving peaceful elections in the state and also
maintain a peaceful society devoid of rancor. The idea behind the Summit was
birthed by youth in the state as part of their contribution toward reducing to
its lowest minimum or total elimination of electoral violence as was witnessed
in the 2011 governorship election.
The 5 Cardinal Objectives of the Summit were as follows: To
create a platform for community participation in building lasting peace; To
create community event that stimulate discussion on peace among various people
and interest; To encourage religious and community leaders to exert greater
influence on reconciliation, healing and forgiveness; To pledge a commitment to
take concrete effort or actions for the achievement of community peace and to
seek to inspire men and women of all faith in the pursuit of peace and mutual
understanding.
Peace activities have accomplished enormous political,
social and cultural goodwill in the global community by attracting young people
to participate together free of political bias and impediments. The Coalition
of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations
(CBOs) in Akwa Ibom State has recognized the need for youth involvement in
promoting a peaceful community.
The Summit was well attended by representatives of
non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, socio-political
groups, student bodies, religious group, resource persons, the media, security
personnel, etc. The Welcome Address was delivered by Akanimoh Enang, the
President of Ibom Harmony Network who was also the Chairman of the Planning
Committee followed by Goodwill Messages from Adedeh Daniel Ibanga of Ibom Youth
Pathfinder; Amb. Sony Ebong of The Messengers of Peace Foundation/Actor Guilds;
Mrs. Aniefiok Akpabio; Bishop John Eyo; Hon. Patsun Abang of PDP National Youth
Vanguard and Chief Columba Akpan. They were two paper presentations by Pastor
Ab. Isong on: ‘Peace, A Panacea for Accelerated Development’ while the Convener
of the Summit, Ubong David presented a Paper on: The Roles of Youth in
Achieving Violence-Free Election earlier presented by Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok
Luke, Member representing Nsit Ubium in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly at
the Flag-Off Ceremony of Youth Campaign Against Election Violence (Y-CAEV) held
at Merit House, Abuja. The Convener emphasized that the Paper should be adopted
as a model strategy to curb electoral violence in the state.
There was an Interactive Session on approaches to be adopted
in addressing the issues of violence before, during and after election.
OBSERVATIONS
Following the remarks and presentations at the Summit, the
Participants observed that:
1. Akwa Ibom youth has been divided along ethnic line which
promotes hatred among the youth population because of 2015 governorship
election.
2. The Political Class has taken undue advantage of the
youth for too long and it is high time the youth in the state realize the need
to change their attitude and develop themselves to be used positively.
3. Those who believe in the peaceful transformation of our
socio-political lot are quick to embrace non-violence means to achieving
lasting change.
4. The Uncommon Transformation experienced in the state is
as a result of peaceful atmosphere created by the people and that the governor
will do better and greater if we continue to make our state violent-free. His
Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio was commended for his development drive in
the state and the forum urges him to do more before the expiration of his
tenure.
5. Youth were singled out as the major player in the
electoral violence in the country as they are being used by the political class
and dumped immediately the election is over. The forum urges youth in the state
to resist strongly any aspirant who do not have them in their agenda.
6. Secret cult was identified as the new ministry in the
state where majority of our youth are initiated on daily basis. This poses a
serious threat to the peace of the community as they take arms against each
other at every slightest provocation. This new order was strongly condemn and
there was a call for attitudinal reorientation and self-development.
7. The political class used our collective resources to
empower the youth population with arms and weapons during election. There was a
call for the people representatives in any political offices to make it a
priority to adopt different empowerment strategies/initiatives to reduce
unemployment among young people in the society as ‘an idle mind is the devil
workshop.’
8. Peace Campaign in the state is a welcome development and
those in position of authority should support such initiatives to achieve its
objectives. The church was identified as an institution where the message of
peace should be preach to a larger audience.
9. Peace campaign should be a collective responsibility as
we all need peace in our home, community, work place, place of worship, local
government, state and the nation. That women are major players in maintaining
peace at home and in the community and therefore should involve in the
campaign.
10. Internal democracy should be entrench in our political
system for free and fair primaries where the choice of the people will be
respected. There was a call for a level playing ground for all aspirants in the
coming general election except where there is need for a Consensus.
11. The forum emphasizes strongly on issue-based campaign
rather than attack on personality. Parochial interest was also identified as
one of the major causes of under-development as those who assume political
offices has nothing to offer. The forum call on youth in the country to rise up
to the occasion by getting involve in the electoral processes; identify
potential aspirants; study their manifesto if it is youth-inclusive before they
decide to be part of his/her campaign team.
12. There is need for Civic and Political Education in the
country to orientate the mindset of the electorates to know their rights and
responsibilities as major player in the democratic processes in the country.
13. Citizens should cultivate the habit of love as the basis
for peace and see each other as brothers and sisters coming from different
home. That Akwa Ibom people should take their mind back to the days of Ibibio
Union where all citizens were seen as one without any ethnic sentiments. That
unity should be embrace by all irrespective of tribe or religion.
14. By 2015, leaders will not emerge as a result of how much
blood is spill or how much people are massacre but God will do His will beyond
human imagination. They condemn in strong terms the embarrass scene that was
created in the state during the 2011 governorship election where lives were
lost and therefore urge the political class to play by the rule of the game.
15. The forum commended Commonwealth Youth Council for their
endorsement of Akwa Ibom Peace Summit and reiterated the need to continue to
collaborate with the organization in their Y-CAEV Project and other
development-driven activities embark on by the organization.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Participants recommended that:
1. Youth in the state should take it upon themselves to
spread the message of peace to all members of the society and ensure that a
peaceful community is maintain always. The Peace Campaign in the State should
be reinforce using the media (facebook, twitter, radio, newspapers, television,
stickers, etc) and all stakeholders should get involve. Government, corporate
institutions, spirited individuals, etc should support such activities to
achieve the desire results.
2. The Coalition of NGOs and CBOs in the state should liaise
with other interest groups in the state to create a Live Platform to engage the
Political Class constructively to assess their capacity and capability in
delivering the dividends of democracy to the people before identifying with
them. The forum recommends that youth should hold their representatives
responsible by assessing their performances while they are in office and use it
to decide their mandate for a second term.
3. Akwa Ibom Youth should disengage themselves from all form
of secret society as their activities is anti-development. That the youth
should not buy into the fallacy that when you join cult, you are better favour
in the society. The forum urge politician to stop henceforth to compel young
people into joining secret cult as it abort the destiny before time. They urge
youth in the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians as thugs
during election period.
4. Every Akwa Ibom Youth see themselves as agent of change
in their community. They should also get involve in development programs
gearing toward the betterment of the larger society.
5. Political offices are not a do or die affair and as such
no single blood should be spill because of election. The forum recommends for a
level playing field for all aspirants during the electioneering processes as
this will reduce tension in the polity and tamed electoral violence in the bud.
COMMUNIQUE SIGNED BY:
1. UBONG DAVID - Eagle Builders Foundation
2. AKANIMO ENANG - Ibom Harmony Network
3. UDEME UKPONG - Akwa Ibom Progressive Youth Network
4. EMMANUEL BONIFACE - Ibom Fresh Purpose
5. ANDREW HANSON - Eket Senatorial District Youth Coalition
6. PAUL BASSEY - Ibom Mobile.Com
7. PEACE EDEM - Youth for Change Development Initiative
8. NICODEMUS IBANGA - Akwa Ibom State Students Summits
Worldwide
9. ALLEN EFFEH - Ibom Youth Pathfinders, Akwa Ibom State
Chapter
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