Women in Plateau state have sued for peace within their communities and called for the Government to be more proactive in addressing insecurity in Nigeria.
The women who came together under the umbrella of Women for positive peacebuilding initiative (WOPPI), Women Peace Builders Network in Nigeria (WOPEN) in collaboration with Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth (WMC) on Saturday 25th June 2022 held a peace rally and summit against violent conflicts in Nigeria held at the forgiveness garden, Jos plateau state.
Elder Ambassador Justina Ngwobia, A Co-Chair of the women’s organization, while addressing the women, said that the gathering was necessitated due to the pains and hardship faced by women as a result of the incessant insecurity and violent conflicts within their various communities.
She stated that ordinary Nigerians are no longer able to make ends meet as a result of these challenges, with children also being out of school either because of strikes or as a result of security issues, and things have fallen apart at all quarters.
“Over the years now, the issues of Farmer- Herder conflict, communal clashes, Banditry, insurgency and kidnapping have rocked the Nigerian state with devastating effects on the daily lives of the women and children. The security challenges have further displaced women who were supposed to be on their farms and thus “HUNGER” is killing lots of poor vulnerable groups of Nigerian women and children”.
“On Thursday, we celebrated the international day of the widows. Research has shown that there are over 258 million widows all over the world, and it has also been discovered that as of today, the increase in armed conflict, displacement, migration and covid-19 has further brought about more widows in the society. These women are left unseen, unreported, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies. We are pained at this. This violence must STOP!!!!”
“Let us all sue for peace even in the upcoming elections, we should all go to the dialogue table to solve our problems together, we hereby call on all Nigerians to be a Nigerian first, before being an Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Angas, Berom, Jarawa, Anaguta, among others”. Elder Justina further stated.
Another Co-Chair of the women’s organization, Hajiya Lantana Abdulahi, said that the rally was a wake-up call, to Government authorities and leaders to address the incessant insecurity challenges and violent conflicts that’s has continued to grow in the country and in Plateau state particularly.
Hajiya Lantana further stated that with the great and heavy pain faced by the women it was time to cry and call on all Nigerians especially leaders to step up actions on issues of good governance, peace, and security, ensure there is orderliness in the society.
“With the 2023 elections around the corner, it is time for the women to be proactive in calling for issues to be addressed as women are more on the receiving end of violent conflict despite not being the perpetrators of the violence.”
“Women should be encouraged to participate in the political process, women should register as political party members and should see themselves and potential decision-makers as such should position themselves to seek leadership positions. With that, women must begin to support other women in politics”.She said
Other speakers from various organizations including, FOMWAN, WOWICAN, Face of Peace, Tattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative, Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, and other notable CSOs and women leaders were also on hand to admonished the women, and encourage them to begin to speak with one voice and set religion or ethnicity aside if they must address the lingering issues within their communities
The women went on to pray for peace in their communities and peace in the upcoming 2023 elections in Plateau state and Nigeria as a whole.