The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Annett Gunther has charged the Bonta and Okwute communities of Benue State to live in peace.
Gunther made the appeal at the “Konshisha – Oju Natural Resource Peace Agreement” signing ceremony organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) held at the Benue Hotels, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, recently.
The diplomat who was represented by the Head, Political Section of the German Embassy, Mathias Dold, cited competition over land and resources due to bludgeoning population and faulty borders by colonialists, as some of the causes of conflicts in communities.
Gunther said the factors that give rise to communal conflicts notwithstanding, peace was “possible if both sides are committed to it”.
Ambassador Gunther also lauded women whom she said she has observed from experience, achieved more enduring peace when they were involved in any peace process.
The Och’Idoma, His Royal Highness Odogbo Elaigwu pointed out in his speech that killing people and destroying properties in the community, eventually amounts to nothing. “Nobody”, he said, “can give you peace until you decide to live in peace”.
Similarly, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Ortese Ayatse noted that conflicts will always continue to be with us as humans, but maintained that it was how to manage it that was important.
The Chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs noted that if the concerned parties “are prepared to sit together and discuss, there should be no crisis”.
Brokered by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), the Natural Resource Peace Agreement in the Tiv speaking Konshisha Local Government Council and the Igede speaking Oju Local Government Council cover the free movement of people in the two councils, open access to markets and amicable resolution of issues over boundaries from colonial era maps that have resulted in friction.
The two communities also agreed on the sharing of water, farmland, forests and other resources.
Governor Hyacinth Alia thanked both parties for their resolve to live in harmonious coexistence.
Represented by his Deputy, Barr Sam Ode, the governor charged Bonta and Okwute communities to sustain the peace as his government was committed to resettling Internally Displaced Persons which will be possible only when there is peace.
