By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Stakeholders who participated at 2 days concord initiative Southeast zonal technical workshop on sustainable peace, inclusive recovery and durable security have identified loss of some core Igbo values as remote causes of insecurity in the region.

The participants drawn from the five States in the South East geopolitical zone, included Traditional Rulers, community leaders, leadership of religious institutions, law enforcement agents, heads of government and nongovernmental organisations, political leaders and educationists.

They further enjoined the governors and lawmakers from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States to thinker policies and legislations geared towards reviving some of the dying Igbo cultural values especially those involving Igbo apprenticeship modal and skills acquisition, sacredness of marriages, community parenting, respect to elders and environments.

According to them, when homes and communities are bonded in peace, there is bound to be inclusive results for durable peace and sustainable development across the South East states and beyond.

Speaking at the event held at Awka, the Anambra State capital, the Traditional Ruler of Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Sunday Okafor, argued that crimes would be reduced to a barest minimum if not totally eradicated when the Igbo nation upholds their core values, even as he charged the younger generations to jettison get-rich-quick syndrome.

On his part, the Executive Director, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Dr Chukwuemeka Eze, urged the government to be proactive in tackling insecurity, engage with stakeholders in dialogue, while improving business investments, build the capacity and manpower of the security agents.

Contributing, the National President, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Chief Titus Akpudo and Mr Okechukwu Nwaguma of Rule of Law and Accountability Centre (RULAAC), averred that insecurity could be addressed through a collaborative efforts with all stakeholders, sustained dialogue and reorientation.

Also speaking, the Anambra State Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agents (NDLEA), Mr Daniel Onyishi urged increased awareness on dangers of drugs and substance abuse, while Bishop Ikenna Afoenyi of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Mrs Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri of Spaces for Change called for jobs creations, youths and women empowerment as tools to nip insecurity to the bud.

On their parts, the Deputy National President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Afam Okeke-Ogene and the representative of National Hunan Rights Commission, Mrs Uche Nwokocha, stressed the needs for the government at all levels to stop supporting electoral malpractices, promote good governance and treat all citizens equally at all times.

In a Goodwill message, the Chairman, Anambra State Truth, Justice and Peace Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, who spoke virtually underscored the importance of peace in nation building and development, while governor Chukwuma Soludo represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim argued that the State government was not relenting in nipping insecurity to the bud.

Earlier, the Director General, Office for Strategic Preparedness & Resilience (National Early Warning Centre of Nigeria), Mr Chris Ngwodo explained that the retreat brought together key leadership actors from the region to deliberate on interventions designed to promote sustainable peace, inclusive recovery and durable security.

"The Concord initiative is an indicator of multidimensional peacebuilding measures, and the South East workshop will serve as an inception dialogue for consensus building among key stakeholders stemming from which critical programmatic interventions will be deployed in the zone.

" By emphasizing dialogue, justice delivery, collaboration, economic empowerment and community engagement, this initiative seeks to address local resentments, agitation and youth restiveness, thereby fostering a conducive environment for growth and prosperity," he further maintained.