The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu has reiterated his commitment to ensuring lasting peace in Southeast Nigeria.
Kalu said this when he was honoured with the Outstanding Peace Ambassador Award for his initiative, Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P), from the House of Representatives Press Corps, in Abuja.
The event also marked the launch of the fourth edition of the Press Corps’ magazine, the Green Sentinel, as well as the launch of its website.
The Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, said that “non-kinetic efforts to address the challenge of insecurity in the southeast are yielding positive results.”
Kalu said security agencies have given commitment to pursue non-kinetic solutions to address the problem.
The Deputy Speaker said though the efforts so far in this regard were yielding positive results, more still needed to be done.
He expressed gratitude to the Corps led by Gboyega Onadiran for its professionalism in ensuring Nigerians are provided with accurate information pertaining to the workings of the parliament.
Kalu said, “Before now, I was the spokesperson of the House, and I worked with you. You have not changed. You remain consistent in ensuring that you do the right work with regards to the ethics of your profession.
“You’ve been feeding Nigerians with the right information. You’ve been unbundling what we do here, we want to be more transparent. You know what that has done for us is that it has increased the confidence level of Nigerians in the workings of the parliament, more than it used to be.
“And today, launching the Green Sentinel, this Green Sentinel started when I was with you. And you’ve not allowed a dream to die. And I’m so proud of you to support you to make sure that you keep telling the story.”
Kalu said; “You’ve not only honoured me with this award, but also recognised my commitment to peace and motivation. The driving force behind my motivation has always been the simple fact that we have one country, and we must work together to preserve its unity. The divisions between North, South, East, and West mean little to people like us. In fact, the more we dissolve these divides, the better, as we are one nation. It’s essential to preach peace to sustain that oneness, starting from within our homes and communities, particularly in the Southeast. As the saying goes, charity begins at home.”
“The Southeast has faced its challenges, though the situation has improved, partly due to our collective efforts and the way stories from the region are reported. We launched the Southeast Peace Project last December, with the President attending the launch. We also pushed for the creation of the Southeast Development Commission, and we’re making progress by reaching out to those who have been radicalized, offering peaceful, non-violent alternatives for achieving their goals.
“The security forces have been supportive, emphasizing that military force is not the sole solution. While we are not yet where we need to be, I am confident that we will get there. Thanks to the President’s leadership, the Southeast Development Commission Bill has been approved and the necessary budget has been proposed. This is not just talk; the President is following through with action.”
He said; “This development will help calm the concerns of those who feel marginalized, showing that the federal government is committed to the region’s growth. With the President’s approval of the Southeast Development Commission, the region will now receive funding from the federation account to help build and develop. Those who had been agitating will now have no excuse to carry arms or destroy their communities. This is a powerful peace tool that the President has provided.”
“The regional development agenda championed by the President is key to restoring peace and unity across the country. The Northwest and Northeast have already received funding for development, and soon, the Southwest and South-South will follow. Each region will have the opportunity to develop itself, fostering progress through federalism.
Ultimately, peace is the foundation of unity, and unity is essential for progress. Our coat of arms says it clearly: ‘Peace, Unity, and Progress.’ Without peace, there can be no unity, and without unity, there can be no progress. I am grateful for the recognition of our efforts and pledge to continue working with you to achieve even more in this important space.”
VON