We Can’t Continue This War Forever; We Need To Lay Foundation For Sustainable Peace – NHRC Boss

We Can’t Continue This War Forever; We Need To Lay Foundation For Sustainable Peace – NHRC Boss

Abuja (Peionews) – The Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chief Tony Ojukwu SAN has lamented the destruction caused by a decade of insurgency in North East Nigeria saying we cannot continue the war forever.

He made this statement in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital during the second meeting of the Borno State Project Advisory Committee (SPAC) on Promoting Reconciliation, Reintegration, and Transitional Justice in some parts of the North East.

He said a lot of havoc has been caused by Boko Haram insurgency to the affected States and Communities, and the Commission through its Project on Promoting Reconciliation, Reintegration, and Transitional Justice in the States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, which is supported by the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has begun to lay a foundation for a sustainable, peaceful and developed society where consideration will be given to the victims and the communities, not undermining the necessity for justice with regards to the perpetrators.

This was the position of the NHRC Boss according to the statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Ojukwu said although the road to reconciliation is long tough and rough, the fact remains that it is only through true reconciliation that we can move the country forward. Therefore, we need to have a sense of justice and restitution, this may not come in terms of cash, but our readiness to put the wounds and pains behind us, in the interest of the nation and a great future is very important for our society.

The Human Rights Boss commended the commitment exhibited by members of SPAC on the implementation of the Transitional Justice Project in Borno State. He said, “the Commission welcomes the acceptance of members of the Committee to work on this Project, the Committee is an important mechanism through which the Commission intends to strengthen and accelerate the achievement of the Transitional Justice Project and promote accountability to the Project’s objectives and outcomes”.

The Chairman of the SPAC who is also the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Borno State Ministry of Justice, Barr Hussaini Izge disclosed that “there are indications that we are exiting the horrific situation, the closure of some camps in Maiduguri is a signal that the peace that we are praying for is gradually returning”.

He said, “with the composition of the SPAC, we will cooperate and use our individual and collective expertise to assist the Commission to ensure that this project is implemented to the later”.

It would be recalled that in March 2022, the SPAC made up of stakeholders involving government institutions and United Nations agencies with humanitarian response was constituted to assist the Commission in playing their unique roles to ensure the smooth implementation of the Transitional Justice Project in the Project States.

In a goodwill message from the Project implementing partner, the UNDP Security Analyst, Usman Usman said Transitional Justice remains key to peacebuilding, especially in the present situation where the government is recording maximum exit of persons from the Boko Haram Sect. He said UNDP is ready and committed to supporting the Borno State government to achieve lasting peace.

His colleague who is also from UNDP Mr. Roy Tore-Bem, acknowledged that though the Project is at its last stage and gradually winding down, he encouraged stakeholders on the need to show serious commitment more than ever before in order to fully actualize the purpose of the Project.

The Project Coordinator who is also the Human Rights Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna gave a rundown of the achievement of the Project including; Capacity building for Media on Reconciliation and Transitional Justice, Development of a framework for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation, Harnessing Community Information and Data for Transitional Justice, Communication and Advocacy to Promote Transitional Justice and Reconciliation etc.

He further stated that there are other important activities under the Project which are yet to be achieved like; Sensitization, Advocacy, and Outreaches, (this will involve traditional/religious leaders forum on reconciliation) Capacity Building and Training, Transitional Justice at the Community Level (involving constitution of transitional justice panel, community reconciliation, and healing sessions etc).

Other stakeholders commented on various issues that would assist in the successful implementation of the Project as they pledged their strong support.

Engaging Journalists To Promote Reconciliation, Reintegration And Transitional Justice Will End Cycle Of Violence – NHRC

Engaging Journalists To Promote Reconciliation, Reintegration And Transitional Justice Will End Cycle Of Violence – NHRC
  • …Takes them on project training

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated that engaging journalists has become necessary to promote the whole idea of Reconciliation, Reintegration and Transitional Justice as this will bring an end to the cycle of violence, particularly in the North East where insurgency and counter insurgency measures have occasioned the need for peace building in various communities.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who stated this in Yola, Adamawa state during the opening ceremony of a training programme for Media Practitioners on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in three North East states, namely Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, noted that Chapter 2 of the1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) recognizes the role of media in national discussion.

The Executive Secretary who was represented at the occasion by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna recalled that journalists were earlier engaged in Media Advocacy and Messaging last year, adding that the job is not over since the media still have more work to do in telling the affected communities and victims that they are not abandoned.

Continuing, the Chief Custodian of Human Rights in Nigeria restated that engaging journalists has become necessary to promote the whole idea of Reconciliation, Reintegration and Transitional Justice in such a manner that the offended communities and victims could begin to see the rational for forgiveness and apologies, from the victims and repentant Boko Haram combatant respectively.

This, according to the Executive Secretary, will bring an end to the cycle of violence and enable the society to have peace and move forward.

The NHRC Boss therefore stated that the media remains “an essential partner in promoting reconciliation and transitional justice in the North East, saying that no effort should be spared in building the capacity of media professionals to embrace and perform this role effectively”.

“The Pilot Project was to initiate community-led process for nonjudicial transitional justice and reconciliation as a foundation for reintegration and post conflict recovery in the North East”, Ojukwu added.

In his opening remarks, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Adamawa state, Samuel Yaumande Esq commended the NHRC for chosing the nonjudicial process to pursue the issue of reconciliation, reintegration and transitional justice in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, advocating that the project must be owned and supported by the communities, in order for it to work effectively.

The Adamawa state top government Official who declared the training open also tasked journalists to be at the centre of promoting the peace project even as he promised that relevant department of his Ministry would be willing to work together with any partner that supports reconciliation and peace building in the state.

Similarly, in her goodwill message, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Humanitarian Services, Adamawa state, Aishatu Bibi Umar Rilwanu stated that security is one of the major priorities of the state government, and that serious efforts are being made by the goverment to ensure that displaced persons are successfully reintegrated into their various communities.

Several papers were presented at the event which was attended by scores of journalists. They include Presentations on the Transitional Justice Project : Milestones, Plans and Expectations (Labaran Babangida, NHRC), Framing Speech: Role of Media in Peace Building, Reconciliation and Transitional Justice in Post Conflict Societies in West Africa (Dr. Chukwuemeka Eze, Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peace building), Transitional Justice: Meaning and Approaches (Hilary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser, NHRC).

Others are Role of the Media in promoting people centred approaches to reconcilation and reintegration in post conflict North East (Dr. Jude Momodu, Director, Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology and Building Community Confidence and Resilience in the Process of Reception and Reintegration of Deradicalised Ex- Boko Haram and other Returnees (Dr. Saheed Owonikoko, Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University).

The project is being carried out with the NHRC with the support of the UNDP and European Union.