By Dr. Terseer Mnzuulgha
— The quest for domination, power and authority has constantly created conflict thereby making peace, security and harmony relatively evasive to humankind. Therefore, over the centuries, due to the nature of man to dominate land, property and people, he has been relentless in his search for peaceful coexistence, conflict resolution and security as it remains a key aspect for development and growth. This has created a situation where efforts are intensified to ensure understanding and tolerance to balance these phenomena through certain engagements such as dialogue, discourse, peace plans, policies and programmes. The idea of holding such programmes is to calm flared tempers and address grievances as most conflicts don’t happen overnight, they come from a build-up of past grievances, misunderstandings of past years, decades or centuries. It is on this ideal that renowned scientist Albert Einstein quotes that, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding”
On this premise, many societies have sued for peace amongst its residents despite vested interests. In Nigeria, the quest for peaceful co-existence is embedded in its foundation reflecting in the national motto, “Unity and Faith-Peace and Progress,” nevertheless, peace and reconciliation has been a critical matter of national and sub-national discourse over the decades. One of such sub-nationals that has even attracted international attention in its drive for peace and security is Benue State. The various administrations in the state over the last fifty years have worked hard to achieve peace; the latest effort being that of the present administration of the Governor, Reverend Father Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia who presided over the State’s Peace Summit and official Launch of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan for Peace and Reconciliation.
The Governor at the summit told the gathering that the peace plan is holistic, as far and wide consultations which were geographically extensive and cutting across the three senatorial zones and several local government areas as well as the active members of the international community in the state were made. Rooted on three pillars consisting conflict prevention mechanisms, early response systems, dialogue, mitigation, reconciliation and inclusion of marginalized communities, Governor Hyacinth Alia said the state hopes to safeguard sustainable and permanent peace through the plan. Governor Hyacinth Alia said the summit and the launch of the strategic plan represent a turning point for peace, harmony, and development for the State; a turning point where Benue chooses dialogue over division, unity over fear, and development over destruction. Governor Alia’s clarification on the establishment of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Centre, DDR as a key institution for peace and reconciliation and not an avenue for inviting suspicious characters into the state was received with satisfaction at the summit. The lesson for Benue state from the Girika system in Post genocide Rwanda and the Turmi declaration from Ethiopia-Kenya border crisis was the theme of the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Mallam Idi Mukhtar Maiha’s adress. He said the Girika system meaning- “One Cow Per Poor Family- the tradition of gifting the first female calf to a neighbour helped rebuild trust, promote confidence and strong social fabric was a profound instrument of social healing in rural Rwanda. This template he opined can be repeated in Benue State. A system he said could be referred to as ‘Nam Yua’ in Tiv language. The initiative is a Value-Added Processing-Investment in abattoirs, leather tanneries, and dairy processing plants to capture more value within the state. While genetically higher breeds of pigs, goats, sheep and dairy cows can be distributed to families to rear, and the progeny will be passed on to their neighbours. This model demonstrates that shared assets, a symbiotic relationship and mutual obligations can stitch a wounded society back together. Similarly the Turmi declaration along the Ethiopia-Kenya border addressed persistent pastoralist conflicts. By establishing joint resource management committees, investing in shared economic infrastructure, and empowering local peace committees, the declaration have shown that cooperation is more profitable than conflict.
For the Minster therefore, the lesson for Benue is clear: economic interdependence is the most durable foundation for peace. When communities are engaged in mutually beneficial trade: farmers, livestock producers, aggregators, processors and marketers- when the prosperity of one group is linked to the prosperity of another, the incentives for violence will evaporate. Nevertheless, the Honourable Minister Idi Maiha declared that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development will work together with the Benue State Government, the esteemed Commission, the Bureau for Livestock Development, traditional rulers, community leaders, private sector investors, and international partners to make the vision for peace in Benue State, a reality. He hoped that Army Armoured Personnel Carriers dotting the various parts of the state will be replaced with tractors and combined harvesters, while, every Machine Gun will be replaced with a Milking Machine where the Benue child, regardless of their tongue or creed, can look forward to a life of dignity, opportunity, and peace. As the lead architect of the Commission’s vision, the Director General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation-BSCPR, Ms. Josephine Habba re-echoed the requirements of sustainable peace to include resilient institutions, inclusive dialogue, the healing of long-standing grievances as well as a coordinated, state-wide peace architecture. The input of the international community on the peace plan was rife as Dr Okoha Okiwo, the team lead of a four year UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO programme tagged, “Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria-SPRiNG” had emphasized that sustainable peace is built on the strength of its institutions which prioritizes the ‘hard truths’ of reconciliation and ensures that the voices of women, youth, and persons with disabilities are heard and central to all decision-making processes. As a critical tool for building development, growth and progress, Benue State under Governor Hyacinth Alia is frantic on attaining relative peace and cohesion. Through the hosting of the Peace summit and the launch of the Peace and reconciliation strategic plan; Benue is taking another critical step in the right direction worthy of emulation by all individuals and in other stakeholder organizations.
Dr. Terseer Mnzuulgha Is The Director General, Radio Benue
