Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said Nigeria’s pursuit of peace cannot be achieved in isolation of the pursuit of justice and other human security needs.
Jonathan stated this on Friday in Abuja at the public presentation of a research report entitled ‘Terrorism and Banditry: The Nexus’; conducted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF).
Jonathan, also GJF Chairman, said that the challenges posed by banditry, terrorism and other associated crimes threatened human essence and the essential values of democracy and nationhood.
“Our pursuit of peace cannot be achieved in isolation of the pursuit of justice and other human security needs. This is so because peace is the bridge that links poverty to prosperity, reconciles hope with despair and imposes order on chaos.
“There is no doubt that our nation is plagued by many crises and these challenges have continued to threaten our fate and shared destinies. We have lost our loved ones, lost millions of properties and investments because of insecurity.
“The challenges posed by banditry, terrorism and other associated crimes threaten our human essence and the essential values of our democracy and nationhood.
“This is why the GJF considered it apt to undertake this research with a view to engaging the relevant stakeholders towards an improved security,” he said.
The former president said that the crisis facing Nigeria today required sacrifice and urgency of actions from all stakeholders.
“We must, therefore, show commitment to peace, in words, in action and in all other necessary means,” he added.
Jonathan said that the presented report was a testament of the foundation’s commitment to its vision of promoting peace and prosperity.
He said that the foundation considered it apt to undertake the research with a view to engaging the relevant stakeholders towards improved security.
As a leader, I have been privileged to preside over the affairs of this nation for five years. I appreciate the challenges that come with nation-building and the burden associated with pursuing peace and building trust in times of crises,” Jonathan said.
He said that the event was organised to engage with relevant stakeholders and proffer solutions and initiate actions that would solve Nigerians common problems.
It “We have come to share thoughts on how to better manage and address the challenges of internal security that are affecting all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnic group and state of origin.
“This report we are presenting today contains some observations and recommendations on the challenges of banditry and other human security concerns in our nation.
“The report is by no way conclusive and complete in itself, that is why stakeholders have been invited to discuss the way forward and suggest more solutions beyond those put forward in the research,” Jonathan said.
In her remarks, the GJF Executive Director, Ms Ann Iyonu, said that the presented report interrogated the trends and drivers of the crises in the North-West.
Iyonu said that the reports also interrogated the impact and implications to internal security whether human or physical.
Credit: Nigeria Tribune