Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has challenged stakeholders on security matters to come up with strategic measures that would address squarely the challenges of insecurity been experienced across the country.
Dr. Ikpeazu made the call at the 2019 Abia Peace Summit organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Abia State in collaboration with the state government held at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
The Governor identified boundary skirmishes among states, poverty, criminality among youths, insensitivity and lopsided appointments on the part of leaders as key issues and contributory factors to violence and insecurity confronting the nation and society at large.
Represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Dr Ikpeazu stressed the need for the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to work assiduously towards resolving boundary issues existing between Abia State and seven other neighbouring States.
He ,however, tasked governments at all levels to do their best in creating job opportunities to checkmate the problem of poverty, unemployment and economic instability which will help reduce tensions in the land.
He described the Peace Summit as a very timely intervention considering the manner lives were being wasted on daily basis through kidnapping, banditry, army robbery,ritual killing among others which have threatened the peace of the Nation.
According to the Governor, based on available statistics, Abia State ranked one of the safest states in the country which he said was achieved through wonderful collaborations between government and all the Security Agencies in the state.
In his keynote address, the Director General of (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari represented by the Anambra State Director of the Agency ,Chief Charles Edozie Nwoji enumerated the various prevailing situations in the state and nation that constituted threats to peace and impediment to progress, development and outlined steps towards building a sustainable peace and called for the establishment of a robust civil/military relations that will promote cardinal relationship between security personnel and civilians through constant dialogue and public enlightenments.
Presenting her address, the State Director of NOA, Lady Ngozi Okechukwu disclosed that the workshop with the theme “Building a People of Peace” was a constructive peace building initiative to overthrow conflicts supporting system and furnish stakeholders with relevant lasting solutions that reduces all forms of violence, political, religious, insecurity and ethnic tensions and thanked the governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his continued pursuit of peace in the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, Abia State Scholarship Board, Ambassador Empire Kanu noted that the various insecurity and violence in the country point to the fact that peace was greatly needed in the country and expressed optimism that the Summit would help address some of these vexing issues.
The Peace Summit featured paper presentations by various resource persons and entertainment by the NYSC Cultural group
