NAN-H-46
Peace
By David Adeoye
Omuo (Ekiti), Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) A cleric, Rev Jacob Ajayi, has appealed to the Niger Delta militants and other dissident groups in the country to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
The cleric made the appeal on Wednesday in Omuo, Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to mark the International Day of Peace.
Ajayi, who is of the Mountain of Victory Apostolic Church, said the activities of Boko Haram in the North-East, militant groups in the South-South and kidnappers in the South-East zones of the country were a major source of concern.
He added that the violence unleashed by the rebellious groups was slowly destroying the harmonious relations and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
“It is also grievously damaging the economy of the country,’’ he said.
He also appealed to sponsors of the dissident groups to have a rethink and give peace a chance by engaging in dialogue with the government.
According to him, unrest and chaos can only destabilise the country and deter it from achieving the greatness it is targeting.
The cleric, therefore, urged the Federal Government to create an atmosphere conducive for meaningful dialogue with such dissident groups across the country.
He advised Nigerians to shun all acts capable of jeopardise the peace in their respective families, saying that it is the harmony at the family level that can engender peace in the society.
NAN reports that the World Peace Day is observed on Sept. 21 of every year as declared by the United Nations.
The Day is often devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace globally.
The theme for the 2016 World Peace Day is: `The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for peace’. (NAN)
DAK/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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