Stakeholders at a conflict prevention and mitigation dialogue held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital recently advocated the reduction in conflict for communities to maximize the gains of democracy and good governance.
At the dialogue, which was organised by the USAID – State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, also recommended that a multidimensional approach should be adopted in resolving crises.
Declaring the dialogue open, the Ebonyi state Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Donatus Ilang, asked the different communities in the state to live in peace and harmony with one another and not resort to actions that could promote conflict.
Represented by the head of Conflict Resolution in the ministry, Mr. Ifeanyi Igurube, the commissioner emphasised the importance of dialogue in settling conflicts.
In his remarks, the Ebonyi state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Scam Nwokolo, recommended that more efforts should be allocated to issues of conflict resolution and called on the church and the media to do more.
While enumerating the various setbacks that could be suffered as a result of conflict, the CAN chairman encouraged the Ebonyi people to support the efforts of the state governor, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, to restore peace in all conflict areas including Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.
Another participant in the dialogue and a member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Sir Dom Isute, enjoined the people in authority to abhor those things that are capable of generating conflicts.
Isute, who is also the national officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), made it clear that conflicts would be reduced if those in government did what they are supposed to do.
