08/09/2017

Peace: Group Trains OPC, IPOB, Arewa Youths



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...A group, Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) on Friday opened training for 45 youths drawn from different ethnic organisations on how to foster peace and unity in the country.
Participants in the training, taking place in Lagos, are drawn from Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Arewa Youths and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Chairman of FEHN, Mr Allen Onyema, while declaring the five-day training open, said it was part of his contributions to the quest for unity and ethnic harmony in the country.
Onyema, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the country remained one and united.
He said “we all know that there is tension in the land and agitations by various groups. This is bound to happen in a country of about 378 ethnic nationalities.
“I think what most people are against is perceived injustice or imbalance but the most beautiful thing is that most people want one, big Nigeria than a fragmented Nigeria.
“The present conflict can become a catalyst for positive change if we take a non-violent approach and refuse to allow ourselves to be used by common enemies to propagate their selfish interests.”
The group chairman lauded withdrawal of the Oct. 1 quit notice by the Arewa youths against Igbos
living in Northern Nigeria, stressing that this was achieved through dialogue.
He urged the government to continue to dialogue with the various groups to find a lasting solution to the agitations.
Onyema noted that the objective of the training was to make the participants to eschew all those things that create division among the various ethnic nationalities.
He said it would help them to build Nigeria as one, united entity and also help to galvanise their members to unite and campaign for one united country.
According to him, the trainees will also be taken to the U.S. for further training at FEHN’s expense.
Ms Maria Davydenko, the Economic and Political Officer, U.S. Consulate in Lagos State, said the participants had a huge role to play as bridge builders in the country.
She said “this is an important time for Nigerians to come together and talk through issues.
“In the U.S., we try to talk through issues as much as we can and try to understand the other side.
“Nigeria is a work in progress and you are part of that project and must take up that role seriously.”
The training facilitator, Dr Bernard Lafayette from Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, U.S., said it was the best approach to resolving issues.
Lafayette said Nigeria had a lot to offer the world and advised the various ethnic groups in the country to continue to work together for the good of the country.

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