The Permanent Secretary, Borno State Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Alhaji Tahiru Shettima, has pledged the full commitment of his ministry to support the processes that will lead to a successful implementation of the Transitional Justice Project flagged off by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the support of the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2021.
A statement by Deputy Director, Public Affairs NHRC, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, said Shettima made this commitment while playing host to the project team who were on a courtesy visit to his office in Maiduguri, to intimate him about the activities of the project.
He said the cardinal philosophy of his ministry is openness, partnership, and commitment to move the state forward.
“We are open to partners who are willing to help salvage our situation, as such we will give you hundred percent support in the implementation of your Project,” he said.
He said human right is part of human existence and no society thrives where the rights of people are not respected.
According to him, when the insurgents begin to surrender, the government realized the need to use the best approach to achieve the desired goal of bringing lasting peace to the region, where those surrendering and those already living in the communities will find a common ground to co-exist.
“What happens when they surrender? They come back to their communities and it is naturally difficult for people to accept them back into these communities; it also becomes very difficult to encourage them to live among the people who had committed some grave human rights violations, this is where you come in.
“Your project will no doubt educate people and encourage them to embrace peace and reconciliation especially when crucial stakeholders like traditional rulers, imam, and clergymen are carried along, we will therefore support you more than ever before as this will not only encourage peace, it will also ensure sustainable development in Borno State,” he said.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Executive Secretary who also doubles as the Project Coordinator, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna, said the NHRC and its partners are collaborating to implement a Project on Promoting Reconciliation, Reintegration, and Transitional Justice in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
He said one of the objectives of the Project is to ensure that the affected states effectively stabilise with peace returning back and people forgiving each other for the crimes committed.
He said there are activities lined up for the implementation of the project and part of the activities is the Traditional and Religious Leaders Forum on Reconciliation scheduled to take place in mid-August 2022.
According to Mr. Ogbonna, one of the major pillars of the Project is partnership, and that is why it is important to pay a courtesy visit to relevant stakeholders especially those in the communities “there is not much we can do without the traditional institutions, we want to convene a forum of traditional rulers in Borno state and we seek your collaboration to enable us to cohost the event “Mr. Ogbonna said.
He stated further that “with the mandate of your Ministry we are in the right place for partnership, we depend on your authority to reach His Royal Highness and all relevant stakeholders in the State”.
