Youth O’Clock Advancement Association, Gombe State chapter has organised a one-day dialogue to strengthen efforts at improving peaceful coexistence amongst citizens of Gombe State.
The dialogue which had Federal, State and local government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations, women groups and the media was themed: “Building Bridge, Promoting Peace, Fostering Harmony in Gombe State.”
The event, which was the Association’s first Peace dialogue, was hosted in Gombe on Saturday.
The Gombe State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Col. Abdullahi Bello (rtd.) restated the commitment of the state government to peace and security of lives and property in the state.
Bello said that the state government had taken measures and was regularly re-strategising ways of improving security in the state.
He urged residents to support the state government’s effort at maintaining the prevailing peace in the state for citizens to enjoy development and good governance.
For his part, the National Convener and Coordinator of Youth O’Clock Nigeria, Engr Seth Francis emphasised the need for all stakeholders to engage more towards smoothening relations and ensuring peace.
Francis said that there was need for citizens and stakeholders to support efforts towards building peace in the country.
“We realise that for the society to be at peace, there must be understanding and religious tolerance, and that’s why we brought the stakeholders together for a dialogue.
“We can’t really find solutions to our problems if we don’t understand one another.
“Our aim is to ensure that there is peace at the end of the dialogue; so we are urging the stakeholders to step down the message to their people towards strengthening the peace in Gombe State.”
Also speaking, Comrade Abdulazeez Sani Labaran, the Gombe State Coordinator of Youth O’Clock reiterated that the event was aimed at bringing out the young people to interact with religious leaders, traditional rulers, service chiefs and the media.
Labaran said the task of peace-building remained a collective one, hence the reason his association engaged all stakeholders towards strengthening peace in the state.
“We came to discuss on ways we can promote peaceful coexistence that will lead to further development.
“As we know, peace is everybody’s business and that’s why we needed to bring on board all the stakeholders to ensure that we contribute toward the enhancement of our peaceful coexistence in Gombe.”
He assured that more engagements would be carried out towards ensuring youths participation in peace building, governance and positive decision-making that would bring about a better country for all Nigerians.
He commended the participants for coming to dialogue and also to observe Iftar with them, noting that the outcome of the dialogue would encourage youths and other stakeholders to put all hands on deck towards sustaining Gombe State as a reference point for peace.
For her part, the Gombe State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Adaline Patari commended Youth O’Clock for hosting its maiden peace dialogue, describing it as a worthy initiative that would contribute to peace-building efforts of the government.
Patari urged youths to support government at all levels towards building a better future for them and all citizens of the state and country.
