Coalition of Civil Society Organizations have called on the federal government to scale up the number of mediators in the country, lamenting that some conflicts have remained protracted.
The CSOs stated this at the just concluded Mediation and Conflict Management Workshop in Abuja on Building, a Cohesive Community organized by Sarahtrihpany ltd, supported by MBBI-IPTI Women in Peace building, Rotary Club of Ikeja and the Emmaus Rotary Club (Pennsylvania, US).
The Executive Director of Sarahtrishpany Ltd Sarah Anlade Dantsoho who is also an alumni of Mediators Beyond Borders International Peace Training Institute (MBBI-IPTI) stated that most conflicts start from little problem before escalating and if mediators are able to come in, it will bring peace in the society.
Anlade explained that the aim of the training was to bring mediators across FCT to teach them meditation processes, how to handle conflicts within their neighborhood.
Also, Gloria Opute Oridia of First Initiative stressed the need to deal with the root cause of conflict rather than just treating it on the face value, saying when resolving conflicts, both parties must be understood to create a lasting peace and amicably resolve conflicts as most times mediator take sides which is not good enough in conflict resolution.
Opute further said the need to increase the number of mediators in the society, so as to get to the root of conflict situations and ensure they do proper mediation.
Also, the Director of International Services Rotary club of Asokoro Rotarian, Dr Ignatius Onyekwere stated that politicization of the peace processes is reason some of the conflict has lingered saying there is need to implement the constitutions and if it’s to be amended it should.
According to him, people have right to say what they don’t like and what they want and it’s important for government to hear them and know what their needs are, government should try and suppress them through court process.
He stated that if all these structures are in place and are being implemented, then Nigeria will be a better place for everyone adding that with the insecurity issue the country, there was need to follow up with security reforms to handle the issues.
The founder of Great Minds Empire Tama Monday Yari lamented that Nigeria is where it is today because the leaders lack the capacity to understand people from their own perspective adding that the environmental the environmental factor also makes us to judge people from emotions.
He stressed the need for political leaders to see themselves from the youth and the elder ones perspective so as to give the right judgment.
Also, the National Youth Leader of the Africa Democratic congress Barister Moris Mba noted that the training of the youth’s n conflict resolution is a step in the right direction as ADC is creating a PAN African movement to change the way things are done.
He said the two major political parties have failed Nigerian but ADC being a party for they youth is a way forward, stressing the need to have safe haven for people to speak out there. Minds as Nigeria cannot keep following the wrong path and there is a need for a fresh path.
