By Iyakale Yakubu
Jos (Nigeria) — A study by United Nations (UN) has shown that traditional and religious leaders play effective role in resolving conflicts in northern Nigeria
Conducted in Plateau State, north central nigeria, the study reveal that traditional and religious leaders were key peace drivers that ensured resolution of the crises experienced in Plateau state between 2001 to 2014.
UN Lead Consultant, Dr Abdul Hussaini, stated this in Jos, at a meeting to validate Review of the Plateau State Peace Architecture.
He said respondents in the study drawn from three local government areas in the three senatorial zones of the State said, the traditional and religious leaders were more reliable in their responses even before the Nigerian Police.
“The responses were based on the antecedents for effective response as key players in the peace process in Plateau,” he said.
Hussaini said, the study revealed that women were not perceived as prominent key stakeholder in the peace building process, but were influential in mobilizing women for peace building talks.
“The study also showed that women were more involved in the peace process at the community peace committees, interreligious peace council and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) committees,“ he said.
He noted that the traditional and religious institutions who were rated most reliable in effective response were patriarchal in nature, thus the low percentage of women in the institutions to be drivers of the peace process.
The Consultant expressed worry that despite findings indicating low engagement of women in peace processes, the society has rated the State Security Architecture of the Plateau as inclusive.
He said that the study recommended that a critical mass of women peace building leadership should be reinforced where women would demand for the full implementation for the affirmative action for women representation in key positions in government at all levels.
In a remark, Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs Rufina Gurumyen, said the State was committed to raising the quality of women in the peace building process despite their economic challenges.
Represented by Director Planning and Research in the Ministry, Retshik Tireng, the Commissioner said the critical perusal of document would ensure it was instrumental in bridging the wide vacuum of the absence of women in the peace building process of the State.
Executive Director for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM), a community based organisation, Justina Ngwobia said, women should be engaged especially at the grassroots levels in peace and security talks.
She cautioned women not to be unruly in their desire to be engaged in the peace process, but be partners in progress with the men for the actualisation of the desire.