A renowned humanitarian, Prof. Peter Katchy, has called on both Federal and state governments to establish Ministry of Reconciliation with mandate to ensure peace and national cohesion.
Katchy, who is the Chairman of Red Cross Society in Anambra, made the call on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on the importance of International Day of Charity.
According to him, the ministry is expected to cause peace and national cohesion to be enshrined which is better than tough talks and military deployment which will exacerbate the militating situations.
“Sequel to internal conflicts/restiveness that have bedeviled Nigeria recently including political bitterness, Boko Harma insurgency, agitations for different republics, herdsmen and farmers conflicts, youth restiveness, religious intolerance, wanton exhibition of hatred, hateful songs, speeches, acerbic insinuations and glaring marginalisation.
“It becomes very pertinent to call on Federal and State Governments to embark on the Reconciliation of the entire Nigeria. This is the first step to keep Nigeria one and secure the future of the nation,” he said.
Katchy said that deeper approaches must be taken that give special attention and protection to the most vulnerable via reconciliation moves that would sustain peace and progress in all parts of the country.
He said that this required the participation of governments by creating enabling environment, advocacy, motivation, and partnership with donors, international agencies, civil societies, volunteers and the mass media to bring succor to all.
“Especially in this militating period of Boko Haram terrorism, herdsmen-farmers conflicts, self-determination agitations which resulted in extreme difficult situations of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) who are in great need of food, water, shelter, healthcare and security to survive.”
Katchy lauded international and local humanitarian charity organisations as well as individual philanthropists for their contributions to sustain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) major goal of poverty reduction which is central to world economic and social order.
“I must commend International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Rotary International, Medicine San Frontier, Bill Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rocky Fella Foundation, MTN, Globalcom, Dangote Foundation, Nestle, Guinness and lots of individual foundations/charities working in Nigeria.
“They are the lifelines of mankind with enormous power of charity which is the unflagging symbol of hope, vigour and amelioration in vulnerabilities.
“Most of the groups mentioned earlier have provided immediate interventions to create enabling situations towards massive push which is needed to boost access to essential services for most vulnerable children and families.
“All these charity work and activities have provided a vital kick-start to human development and poverty reduction, long term initiative that are rooted in human rights based approach to development,” he said.
The International Day of Charity, celebrated globally on Sept. 5, is meant to herald activities of charities all over the world that helped to save and improve people’s lives, fighting diseases, protecting children, and giving hope to millions of people.
To honour the important work that these many charities do, in 2012 the United Nations decided to nominate an annual International Day of Charity – Sept. 5 – as an official day of recognition and celebration.
The reason the date was chosen is because it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
