₦airaland Forum

Unity convention doesn’t amount to unity in NANS
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Will NANS ever be united? This is not a question; it is a challenge to those presently leading NANS and those that may likely lead it in the future. Will you ever make NANS truly united?

After reading that Chinonso Obasi and Aruna Kadiri have agreed to host a unity convention for the upcoming NANS election, I can’t but ponder about similar incident that happened some years back.

Just few years ago, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) was factionalized. Comrade Imagwe Jude and Comrade Ini Ememobong both lay claim to the NANS presidency.

After their tenure expired, well meaning comrades and stakeholders advocated for the need to have a united NANS and a unity convention was held, that produced Yinka Gbadebo.

After Yinka Gbadebo emerged as NANS President, it was assumed that unity has finally returned to NANS and that the unity would be sustained to make NANS a strong and vibrant students body that would be able to defend the right of the Nigerian Students. However, after Comrade Tijani Usman Shehu took over the mantle of leadership, he was unable to hand over a united NANS that he inherited. NANS was once again divided.

I have come to observe something lately. Any year the candidate of those who regard themselves as power that be in NANS failed to emerge, they factionalize the organization to continue their business. To them, NANS is a business that must put food on their table and only their anointed candidate can guarantee that meal.

As another NANS election draw closer, aspirants such as Amb S A Lukman, Comrade Odunjo Adio and others have once again succeeded in impressing the need for unity on the leadership and a unity convention has been approved for 3rd, 4th and 5th May 2018.

While I wish NANS a successful convention, I wish to draw our attention to the unimaginable damage division within NANS is causing the Nigerian Students.

Apart from the fact that NANS as an organization has been discredit in public eyes, apart from the fact that Nigerian students no longer regard the body as their representatives, apart from the fact that NANS has been commercialized largely to the highest bidder, what is left of NANS is also being derided by division. How can NANS attempt to restore its dignity when the house is divided against itself?

Dear Comrades, what I am saying is very simple. Let this be the last time NANS will ever be divided. Hosting a unity convention doesn’t amount to unity in NANS, staying together united should be the ultimate target.

But if I may ask, how can NANS stay united? It’s by doing away with vested interest that has contributed largely to rendering NANS almost useless to Nigerian students.
How can NANS stay united, It is by being sincere enough to conduct free and fair election that even those who loose may feel justified.

How can NANS truly stay united? It is by returning to campus and regaining the confidence of the Nigerian students.

https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/04/unity-convention-doesnt-amount-to-unity.html

Media perception and Nigeria peace index
by ABDULRAZAQ O HAMZAT

Mention five states in Nigeria that are considered not peaceful based on public perception? That was the question that shaped the private conversation I had with two veteran media personalities and crisis communication experts this past week. It was an unplanned discussion about the role of media in communicating events and shaping perceptions.

As we are all aware, media communication in our culture is said to hold an influential place in disseminating information, forming attitudes and motivating behavior. However, according to the conclusion in a Conference of Catholic Churches (CCC, no. 2489), ‘’the more our culture moved away from acceptance of objective truth, the more it has moved toward the culture of opinions’’, which in my view is largely shaped by media reports and perception. On Friday, April 6, 2018, Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) publicly unveiled the maiden edition of Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) report in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital.

Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) is an independent national peace index that is focused on measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices. Shortly after the public unveiling of the NPI, I was privileged to find myself in the midst of some highly resourceful Nigerians in persons of Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, a veteran media guru and Founder of PRNigeria and Mr Chidi Omeje, Head, Planning, Research and Statistics, Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC). As is the practice in a gathering of individuals who care about direction of the country, it is not surprising that immediately after I get acquainted with Mr Chidi, whom I am meeting for the very first time, we suddenly went into discussing the issues of peace and national security, with the content of Nigeria peace Index (NPI) being a major point of reference.

Before the arrival of Mr Chidi, Alhaji Shuaibu and I have been discussing the findings of NPI in relation to the current dynamics of conflict in Nigeria. While explaining the difficulty one might experience in convincing media to give NPI more attention, he opined that the current dynamics and media perception doesn’t correlate with the findings of the report. To confirm that this perception is popular in the public and media circle, Alhaji Shuibu threw some questions to Mr Chidi, with the hope of contextualizing the current dynamics in relation to NPI findings. Mention five states in Nigeria that are not considered peaceful based on public perception, Alhaji Yushau Shuibu asked Mr Chidi. It was a clever way to bring in a neutral third party into the discussion.

After listing the five states as requested, he was requested to support the inclusion with reasons, which he did excellently. However, when I was requested to list 3 most peaceful states in Nigeria based on Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) and i did, Mr Chidi was surprised, but he didn’t try to disagree. Instead, he wanted to know how we arrived at that conclusion. I quickly took the opportunity of his interest to discuss the methodology used in designing the Nigeria Peace Index (NPI). I clarified that to our understanding, there are differences between peace index, perception index and conflict index. So, what the Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) designed was a peace index and not a conflict or perception index.

To design the Nigeria Peace Index (NPI), 5 broad indicators were adopted namely crime rate, level of human rights abuse, level of poverty, level of education and rate of incarceration. Under these five broad categories, there are sub indicators, which include rates of communal clashes, kidnapping, extra-judicial killings, unlawful arrest and detention, armed robbery and many others.

Putting all these data together across the 36 states of the federation gave us the rating of the NPI. Although, the duration of our research is between 2010 and 2016, there are no evidences that there will be sharp difference when data are considered for 2017 and 2018. It is important to note however that, perception of peace is not the same as presence of peace. Perceptions are shaped largely by media reports. The more coverage negative stories from a state get, the greater the perception of lack of peace and vise versa.

It is on the basis of news coverage that newspapers give diet of opinions on their op-ed pages. As aptly captured by (CCC, no. 2489), talk shows on television turned the sharing of opinions into a national pastime. Editors and talk show hosts strive to give us a range of opinions that stretch from one end of the spectrum to another. At another level, people are enlisted to share their thoughts and feelings publicly on any number of social, moral, and political matters. As a result, some people spend valuable time sharing only feelings or uninformed opinions. However, that is not the case with Nigeria Peace Index (NPI). NPI was designed based on facts and verifiable data. It is not about opinion or perception of peace. It is primarily focused on rating the peacefulness of states based on foundational indices of peace, which are verifiable and not tied to singular events.

Upon my submission, we all agreed that such a fact based index needed to be given more attention to improve the general state of peacefulness in the long run. More importantly because, the NPI will help leaders at various arms of government come to term with fundamental issues needing proper attention to guarantee long term peace. Let me conclude by asking a question we can all ponder about going forward. How can media contribute to peace building and prevent conflict in Nigeria?

To me, it is by giving voices to those who are advocating tolerance,peace building and understanding and promoting such other efforts geared towards strengthening the foundational indices of peace. Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) is one of such efforts and we all need to embrace it.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is a Human Right Ambassador and Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), producer of Nigeria Peace Index (NPI)
https://www.blueprint.ng/media-perception-nigeria-peace-index-abdulrazaq-o-hamzat/

hum

Ekiti Emerges Most Peaceful State AA Group Unveils Nigeria Peace Index

An independent Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), has unveiled Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) with Ekiti State emerging as most peaceful in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), Ambassador Abdulrazaq Hamzat explained that measuring peace at the national level allows a country to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace.
He pointed out that ‘’human attitudes, which often impede peace is a total summation of human life experiences, which if improved upon may lead to a more peaceful society, and failure of which leaves us with constant unrest’’.
Explaining the methodology used in developing the index, Abdulrazaq stated that, in attempting to rate the level of peace in Nigeria, NPI investigated the extent to which states experience social, economic, political and environmental factors that either hinders or promote peace.
Five broad indicators were adopted for the index and they include, Level of Poverty, Crime Rate, Level of Education, Rate of Human Rights Abuses and Level of Incarceration.
‘’We collected data for year 2010-2016, an average of which gives us the result of Nigeria peace Index 2017’’ He said.
Abdulrazaq also added that, ‘’The NPI was referenced in a special report presented at the United Nations in 2017 by United Network of Young Peace builders titled ‘’Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peace building’’.
Speaking about regional performances, South West emerged as most peaceful region in Nigeria, having two of its states, Osun and Ekiti as 1st and 3rd most peaceful states on the Nigeria Peace Index.
Additionally, the South South region, despite the activities of militancy groups still has more tendency of peace than South East, North Central, North West and North East region.
The NPI report indicates that Osun and Kogi State are most peaceful states in Nigeria, followed by Ekiti, Kwara and Imo State, which emerged as 3rd, 4th and 5th most peaceful states respectively.
The index also revealed that Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto State are the five least peaceful states in Nigeria. This is apart from Borno State that was not considered in the research due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light.
The representative of Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Mr Ichedi S.J also commended the efforts of FPP, stating that the organizations effort is an attempt to begin the process of changing Nigeria’s narrative.
While urging FPP to seek collaboration and endorsement from statutory government agencies, he assured them of the willingness of NBS to provide all necessary support in the future.
Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, co-convener of Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) who unveiled the document expressed delight with the effort put into the index.
According to him, this excellent research work came at a time when Nigeria dearly need peace in its quest for nation building and this important report will go along way in shaping our perception as well as provide appropriate policy direction for peace building.

http://metrowatchonline.com/ekiti-emerges-peaceful-state-aa-group-unveils-nigeria-peace-index/

Facts don't lie

Osun is ‘most peaceful state’ in Nigeria

Osun has been rated the most peaceful state in Nigeria, followed by Kogi, Ekiti Kwara and Imo states.

The ranking was based on the research findings of the Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP).

Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto were found to be the least peaceful states in the country.

On a geo-political basis, Akwa Ibom was rated the most peaceful state in the south-south, Kaduna in the north-west, Kogi in the north-central, Osun in the south-west, Imo in the south-east and Taraba in the north-east.

The report also indicated that Lagos state had the least poverty rate, Zamfara the least crime, Ekiti, the least incarceration rate and Taraba, the least human right abuses rate.

South-east Nigeria had the highest number of higher education institutions in the country with Imo rated to be the most educated state.

The FFP data was collected between 2010-2016.

https://www.thecable.ng/osun-peaceful-state-nigeria

Osun, Kogi, Ekiti most peaceful states, says report

Osun State is the most peaceful in the country, according to a report on Nigeria Peace Index (NPI).

It is closely followed by Kogi and Ekiti States, according to the report.

According to NPI, Kwara and Imo ranked as fourth and fifth respectively in the rating.

The inaugural peace index report put together by the Foundation for Peace Professionals, a research organisation that advocates for peace, adopted similar methodology of the Global Peace Index.
It also followed the pattern of the United States Peace Index and the United Kingdom Peace index in series of national indexes.

Speaking at the unveiling of the report in Abuja, the Executive Director of FPP, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, explained in attempting to rate the level of peace in Nigeria, NPI investigated the extent to which states experience social, economic, political and environmental factors that either hinder or promote peace.

He said: “We collected data for 2010 to 2016, an average of which gives us the result of Nigeria peace Index 2017.

“Five broad indicators were adopted for this index and they include the level of poverty crime rate, level of education, rate of human rights abuse and level of Incarceration.

“Key findings of the NPI showed that Osun State is the most peaceful state in Nigeria and it has greater tendency for peace based on its overall performance in the five broad indicators. While Osun didn’t come top in any of the five indicators, its overall score is the least violent.

“Osun, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Imo States are five most peaceful states in Nigeria.

“Kogi is second most peaceful state in Nigeria and most peaceful in the North. Imo is the most peaceful state in South-East and fifth most peaceful in Nigeria.

“Akwa Ibom is most peaceful state in South-South, Kaduna in North-West, Kogi in North Central, Osun in South-West, Imo in South-East and Taraba State in North-East.”

The report stated that Yobe Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto were five least peaceful states in Nigeria, adding this was apart from Borno that was not considered due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light.

The report therefore assumed that Borno was overall least peaceful.

It said Lagos had least poverty in Nigeria while Zamfara had least crime and Imo the most education.

The NPI noted that Ekiti had least incarceration and Taraba had least human rights abuses, adding that the North-West with least education and most poverty in Nigeria was one of the two least peaceful regions in the country despite being most performing in the other three indicators.

http://thenationonlineng.net/osun-kogi-ekiti-peaceful-states-says-report/

FPP Unveils Nigeria Peace Index with Rating of States

An independent Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), has unveiled Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) research focusing on measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices. The Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), Ambassador Abdulrazaq Hamzat explained that measuring peace at the national level allows a country to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace. He pointed out that ‘’human attitudes, which often impede peace is a total summation of human life experiences, which if improved upon may lead to a more peaceful society, and failure of which leaves us with constant unrest’’. Explaining the methodology used in developing the index, Abdulrazaq stated that, in attempting to rate the level of peace in Nigeria, NPI investigated the extent to which states experience social, economic, political and environmental factors that either hinders or promote peace. Five broad indicators were adopted for the index and they include, Level of Poverty, Crime Rate, Level of Education, Rate of Human Rights Abuses and Level of Incarceration. ‘’We collected data for year 2010-2016, an average of which gives us the result of Nigeria peace Index 2017’’ He said. Abdulrazaq also added that, ‘’The NPI was referenced in a special report presented at the United Nations in 2017 by United Network of Young Peace builders titled ‘’Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peace building’’. Speaking about regional performances, South West emerged as most peaceful region in Nigeria, having two of its states, Osun and Ekiti as 1st and 3rd most peaceful states on the Nigeria Peace Index. Additionally, the South South region, despite the activities of militancy groups still has more tendency of peace than South East, North Central, North West and North East region. The NPI report indicates that Osun and Kogi State are most peaceful states in Nigeria, followed by Ekiti, Kwara and Imo State, which emerged as 3rd, 4th and 5th most peaceful states respectively. The index also revealed that Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto State are the five least peaceful states in Nigeria. This is apart from Borno State that was not considered in the research due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light. The representative of Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Mr Ichedi S.J also commended the efforts of FPP, stating that the organizations effort is an attempt to begin the process of changing Nigeria’s narrative. While urging FPP to seek collaboration and endorsement from statutory government agencies, he assured them of the willingness of NBS to provide all necessary support in the future. Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, Co-Convener of Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) who unveiled the document expressed delight with the effort put into the index. According to him, this excellent research work came at a time when Nigeria dearly need peace in its quest for nation building and this important report will go along way in shaping our perception as well as provide appropriate policy direction for peace building.

Read more at: https://prnigeria.com/2018/04/fpp-nigeria-peace-index/

iamhorny:
This is why I don't take some news media house and nairaland seriously....

All they do is employ lazy bloggers and journalist who only plagiaris stories without checking the authenticity....

To Op, after posting it on your blog https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/04/nigeria-peace-index-unveiled-as-osun.html then to nairaland Yesterday, lazy journalist from guardian and dailytrust then comes to nairaland ,copy it and now it's new....

The same way they all posted fake news of Kanu Nwankwo wanting to contest 2019 election, a new which emanated from unknown blog, only for him to refute it later...

It is the same way vanguard copied one of my post here on niaraland of IPOB rally been led by a lady on the horse. The most annoying thing was they did not even edit it...they just copied it word for word...including the title of the thread...

So, in your mind, Silverbird TV, AIT, the Nation, Sun Newspaper, Guardian, Leadership, Daily trust all copied from Mrrighst blog? That's impressive.

?

Osun, Ekiti, three others, rated most peaceful states
https://guardian.ng/news/osun-ekiti-three-others-rated-most-peaceful-states/

The Nigerian Peace Index Report has indicated that Osun, Kogi, Ekiti Kwara and Imo states are the five most peaceful states in Nigeria while Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto are the least peaceful states.

The research, conducted by Foundation for Peace Professionals, also revealed that the South East has the highest number of higher education institutions in the country with Imo State rated to be the most educated state.

Osun is the most peaceful state, followed by Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Imo state. Akwa Ibom was rated most peaceful state in the South South, Kaduna in the North West, Kogi in the North Central, Osun in the South West, Imo in the South East and Taraba in the North East.

Lagos state has the least poverty rate, Zamfara, the least crime, Ekiti, the least incarceration rates and Taraba, the least human right abuses.

Executive Director of the Foundation, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, during the Media Launch of the Research Project yesterday, disclosed that data was collected between 2010-2016, an average of which was used for the report.

Osun, Kogi most peaceful states in Nigeria – Report
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/osun-kogi-most-peaceful-states-in-nigeria--report.html

Osun and Kogi states were the most peaceful states in the country as at December 2017, a survey tagged “Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) Research Project” have shown.

The 37-page maiden report formally presented to newsmen Friday in Abuja by the Executive Director, Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), Ambassador Abdulrazaq Hamzat, also showed that despite the current wave of armed banditry and violence killings in Zamfara, the state has the least crime rate record as at the time the survey was conducted.

He said the aim is to gradually change Nigeria’s narrative from crisis and insecurity to peace and tranquillity, thus their measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices in the 36 states of the federation and that the data were for 2010-2016.

According to him the data were obtained from Police, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations.

He said the NPI is based on similar methodology with the Global Peace Index (GPI), United States Peace Index (USPI) and United Kingdom Peace index (UKPI) in series of national indexes.

“Osun State is the most peaceful state in Nigeria and it has greater tendency for peace based on its overall performance in the five broad indicators. While Osun didn’t come top in any of the five indicators, its overall score is the least violent. Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Imo state follow Osun as the five most peaceful states in Nigeria.

“Kogi State is second most Peaceful State in Nigeria and most peaceful in the North. Imo state is the most peaceful state in South east and 5th most peaceful in Nigeria. Akwa Ibom is most peaceful state in South-South, Kaduna in North West, Kogi in North Central, Osun in South West, Imo in South East and Taraba State in North East,” Hamzat said.

He said Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto states were the five least peaceful states while Borno State was not considered due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light, hence Borno was consider the overall least peaceful.

He said the five broad indicators adopted for the survey were level of poverty (determined by the living standard in a state, their access to medicare and others), and crime rate (murder, manslaughter, suicide, general harm, assault, rape, slave dealing, armed robbery, kidnapping, theft, child stealing, arson and forgery among others).

Also were level of education (ratio of secondary school graduates seeking higher education), rate of human rights abuse (degrading treatment by law enforcement agents, unlawful arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, domestic violence, communal clashes, disobedience of Court orders, human trafficking and threat to life among others) and level of incarceration (number of people in jail in each states of the federation).

Sctests:
Immediately I saw this.....





I knew the yoruba muslim fake statisticians have cooked their usual revisionist statistics through their phoney NGO sponsored by Aregbe and APC because of upcoming elections.

Who would you believe, UN documented statistics or one Abdulrazaq Hamzat yoruba muslim statistics ?

Which UN report are you referring to? To my understanding, there has never been any of such index in Nigeria. This is the first. Meanwhile, you can share the link of the UN report if it exist. Thanks

rainylad:
Afonja-muslim/Lagos -Ibadan media of lies and falsehood has come again...I see one oblong skull saying that SW is the peaceful...Yeah i agree,skull-minning which an hourly occurance there is a crime in SW afterall

So, to your mind, only crime constitute lack of peace? Hum

givan:
No piss in Nigeria since the inspection of buharism!

With all the dino-bello mini war, kogi still paid it way through when workers salary is still pending!

Op, tell us true, how much do you think bello paid for this list

givan:
No piss in Nigeria since the inspection of buharism!

With all the dino-bello mini war, kogi still paid it way through when workers salary is still pending!

Op, tell us true, how much do you think bello paid for this list

Bello does not even know an index has been conducted. Sorry

samsobo24:
Good but the peacefulness wouldn't be complete without having better quality of life.I would be glad if they had basic amenities that resulted to this peacefulness.

Good one anyways

I agree with you

lestat:
I disagree with this list


But when I saw it was by a Nigerian NGO I wasn't surprised it was rubbish

Why do you disagree? It would be proper for you to state your reason.

Nigeria Peace Index unveiled, as Osun and Kogi emerged most peaceful states in Nigeria
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/04/nigeria-peace-index-unveiled-as-osun.html

Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), an independent Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) has publicly unveiled the much
anticipated Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) research and the index came with some shocking revelation. Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) is the first
national peace index in Nigeria focused on measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices.

In the Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) publicly unveiled in Abuja on Friday, Osun and Kogi State emerged as the 2 most peaceful states in Nigeria,
followed by Ekiti, Kwara and Imo State, which emerged as 3rd, 4th and 5th most peaceful states respectively. The index also revealed that
Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto State are the five least peaceful states in Nigeria. This is apart from Borno State that was
not considered in the research due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light.

The Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), Ambassador Abdulrazaq O Hamzat explained that, ‘’measuring peace at
the national level allows a country to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace.

He also noted further that, ‘’human attitudes, which often impede peace is a total summation of human life experiences, which if improved upon may lead to a more peaceful society, and failure of which leaves us with constant unrest’’.

Explaining the methodology used in developing the index, Abdulrazaq stated that, In attempting to rate the level of peace in Nigeria, NPI
investigated the extent to which states experience social, economic,political and environmental factors that either hinders or promote
peace.

Five broad indicators were adopted for the index and they include,Level of Poverty, Crime Rate, Level of Education, Rate of Human Rights
Abuses and Level of Incarceration.

‘’We collected data for year 2010-2016, an average of which gives us the result of Nigeria peace Index 2017’’ He said.

Abdulrazaq also added that, ‘’The NPI was referenced in a special report presented at the United Nations in 2017 by United Network of
Young Peace builders titled ‘’Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peace building’’.

Speaking about regional performances, South West emerged as most peaceful region in Nigeria, having 2 of its states, Osun and Ekiti as
1st and 3rd most peaceful states on the Nigeria Peace Index.

‘’Additionally, the South South region, despite the activities of militancy groups still has more tendency of peace than South East,
North Central, North West and North East region. Abdulrazaq said.

The representative of Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Mr Ichedi S.J also commended the efforts of FPP,
stating that the organizations effort is an attempt to begin the process of changing Nigeria’s narrative. While urging FPP to seek
collaboration and endorsement from statutory government agencies, he assured them of the willingness of NBS to provide all necessary
support in the future.

Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, Co-Convener of Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) who unveiled the document expressed delight with the
effort put into the index.

According to him, this excellent research work came at a time when Nigeria dearly need peace in its quest for nation building and this
important report will go along way in shaping our perception as well as provide appropriate policy direction for peace building.

Okpalanma further added that, It is not an over statement to say that,Nigeria Peace Index is a significant initiative within the context of
efforts aimed at not only tackling insecurity, but also at building peace, an integral part of the Nation Building process.

He recommended the document to both federal and state government, policy makers, academic institutions and international organizations
as a useful tool in informing their actions and processes.
END

In a place you can call home
By Abdulrazaq O hamzat

Home is a place you are welcome, a place you are comfortable, a place that evokes memories of history and ownership. It is a place you are free to be good or bad and still maintain your human dignity. Home is a place you are allowed to be fallible and be human. In a place you can call home, that’s a place you should be able to enjoy the comfort of self expression and vast exploration without restriction. It is a place that offers you all the opportunity it can afford, so that you can realize your dreams and life aspirations without jeopardizing your decency, culture and sanity. Any place or location that off ers you the above is worthy to be called home, no matter where it is, because indeed, it is home.

However, this kind of perfect home description is almost none-xistent in our world today. No place in the world today come close actually, but it is not achievable, should we decide to pursue it. We all deserve to be at home. Many people only see their place of birth as their home. Some considers their parent place of origin home, while others see their places of residence as home. In truth, all these places could be home, but if it doesn’t welcome you and give you comfort, if it doesn’t evoke memories and give you a sense of ownership, if it doesn’t accord you the opportunity to be free, whether for good or bad and yet maintain your human dignity, if it doesn’t allow you to explore so you can realize your dreams and life aspirations while keeping your decency, culture and sanity, it is not yet worthy to be called home.

Theoretically, when the word home is mentioned, several meanings come to mind. To Pourteous (1976), it is a structure or area in which an emotional investment has been made by an individual or a small group. In western sense of it, home is seen as the major site of family social relations and kinship interactions, a place to carry out the everyday routine of family life (Allan and Crow, 1989). Okeyinka, (2012) explained that, home is unique and for a place to be called home, there are many factors the home must fulfill. This is why it is always referred to as a physical place and a cognitive concept.

However, the Yoruba understanding of home is broad and all encompassing. In Yoruba philosophy, home is seen to be physical, physiological and spiritual. “Ile ni abo isin mi oko” is a popular Yoruba phrase, which is literally translated to mean, home is the resting abode. One of the universal attribute of man is imperfection and to live a fulfilled life, in spite of these short comings, man requires a place that accommodates him and all his imperfections, so that he can learn and grow with experience. However, in the traditional way of dietifying what they cannot explain, the Yoruba resorted to the almighty and concluded that, “Orun ni ile”, meaning that, “Heaven is Home”.

It was assumed that, the kind of perfect home we envisage can only be available in heaven. In a publication titled returning to Lagos: Making the Oja Home, Solima Otero gave an analysis of the Yoruba concept of “aye loja” earth is a market place and “orun ni ile”, heaven is home.

According to him, in the idea of “oja”, the Yoruba market place, and “orun” (heaven) as home, Yoruba presents a truncated form of meta-analysis that provides a cultural critique about both the subject matter at hand and the use of language to reflect that message.
The notion of the bustling, busy oja expressed in the proverb certainly applies to the place at which returning Africans and Afrocubanos arrived on their journey home. However, beyond the Yoruba explanation, a Christian fundamentalist, Rev Eric D Barreto explained the concept of heaven as home in a different way. While trying to explain what heaven is, Rev Eric noted that heaven is far more ordinary. According to him, heaven is opportunity. Heaven is the mere chance for a better life. Heaven is found just on the other side of the border. He concluded that, heaven is tangible, if only the right papers and documents and citizenship could come into their possession. What this mean is that, when the word home is mentioned, what come to mind are freedom, opportunity and comfort. Even when home is said to be in heaven as emphasized in Yoruba philosophy, man’s quest for comfort is still brought into the definition and understanding of the home in heaven. If the world is a market place, heaven which is regarded as home is seen as the resting place. If this is the case, I am of the opinion that we need not go to heaven to have a desired home. We can start to build a desired home for everyone anywhere we find ourselves. We can start to make everyone in our environment enjoy the comfort of self expression and vast exploration without restriction. We should not crucify people because they are fallible as human, just like we are. Let us allow everyone to be good or bad and still maintain their human dignity, hoping that they will learn and grow to be better human with experience.
I have observed that nobody wants to be bad, but everyone has some element of badness in them. We all didn’t acquire those traits intentionally. The summation of our life experiences made us who we are and we should not blame or crucify ourselves too much for being victim of circumstances that made us. Since it has been established that every human has some elements of badness, we shouldn’t make each other worse, by denying ourselves a worthy home. If we can take our time to ask people what they have been through that made them who they are, we are most likely going to appreciate them and pity them for who they turned out to be. If you think someone is bad or unpleasant, don’t rush to judge or condemn them, until you go through what they went through and come out differently and better. Finally, rather than judge people, without knowing their story or what made them who they turned out to be, make them a home.

Hamzat is a Human Rights Ambassador and Executive Director, Foundation for Peace Professionals.
He can be reached on discus4now@ gmail.com
https://www.blueprint.ng/dont-rush-judge-abdulrazaq-o-hamzat/

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FPP to unveil NPI research project
https://www.blueprint.ng/fpp-unveil-npi-research-project/

Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) is set to launch the Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) research project in the country.
The Nigeria Peace Index (NPI) is the first national peace index in Nigeria that is focused on measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices.
In a press statement issued yesterday by Executive Director, Foundation for Peace Professionals, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, in Abuja explained that the research project will show the most and least peaceful states in Nigeria, and the most and least peaceful region in Nigeria.
“It will also reveal the most peaceful states in each of the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria, least peaceful states in each of the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria among other interesting revelations”.
He further explained that the index also provides analysis of socio economic factors associated with peacefulness in states across Nigeria, as well as an estimate of the economic benefits that will flow from increase in peace.
“Nigeria Peace Index (NPI), which rates the level of peacefulness in the 36 states of the federation, is the product of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP).
“FPP is an independent and non-partisan organization dedicated towards propagating peace and promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR),” he said.

Boko Haram yet to be defeated
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

The terrorist group, Boko Haram is yet to be defeated, degraded or decimated, this is the glaring truth that must be accepted and confronted with all sincerity, so that they can truly be defeated and decimated beyond the rhetoric.

While the group is no longer gaining more grounds like it used to do during the previous administration, they are still very much alive and active. It has in our observation, adopted a different mode of operation, which is no longer about sacking communities or gaining territories, but consolidating its achievement and gaining the heart of the people in the area it has significant influence, a method that seems to be silently working in its favor, as seen in their heroic welcome in Dapchi village, when they returned the abducted Dapchi girls on 21st March, 2018.

Contrary to popular claims that the people were excited because the abducted girls were returned, Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) hold the views that, what was seen in Dapchi was not an excitement about the returned girls alone, it is indeed a welcome reception for the terrorist group, by those who willingly or unwillingly align with their ideology.

It is true that significant progress has been made in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency by the current administration. However, we are compelled to observe that in government quest to paint a rosy picture of the progress, it is doing so beyond the reality on ground, thereby beclouding itself from the reality stirring the general public in the face.

In a video widely circulated on social media, excited locals were seen struggling to get close to Boko Haram vehicle in other to touch it like a sort of celebrities and those that did got close was seen touching the terrorists with passion and praying for them to succeed.

“May God assist you in your mission’’ some locals prayed in Hausa language.

In another video posted on Sahara Reporters online media platform, crowd of sympathizers in Dapchi town were seen praising Boko Haram commanders for their efforts and praying for them to succeed in their agenda. The report also said that the group warned parents to desist from taking their children to school.

A careful analysis of that event by Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) indicates that the entrance of Boko Haram to Dapchi town with their flag right up is a psychological victory for the group and a blow of Nigeria. It re-enforces the fact that they are still in control in some areas and failure to abide by their directives open the people to their wrath. Who dare listen to the government, when the terrorist group is clearly in charge? Who dare disregard the group in those areas, when they can kidnap and return over 100 people at will? This is contrary to claim of government that Boko Haram has been defeated.

We call on the government to accept the reality of the situation and mobilize all Nigerians behind it in its quest to truly defeating the group and restoring peace and order.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat, Foundation for Peace Professionals, 08076976917.
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/boko-haram-yet-to-be-defeated.html

PDP to FG, heed Bill Gates advice
https://mrrightsng..com.ng/2018/04/pdp-to-fg-heed-bill-gates-advice.html

Instead of diverting public attention with its usual deceit and propaganda, the APC government should gear up and deliver on its hundreds of unfulfilled campaign promises, the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives has said.



In a statement issued by the House Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor, the PDP House caucus warned that the APC’s uncharitable use of the Chibok’s girls’ abduction during the 2015 political campaigns along with its current propaganda efforts cannot help APC win re-election in 2019.



“Over and over, it has been proven that hands down, the current APC government in Nigeria beats all preceding administration, including the colonial ones, in the sinister art of deceitful lies and propaganda.



“With fiendish mercilessness, APC’s 2015 campaign milked the unfortunate abduction of Chibok girls for every available ounce of propaganda and disinformation against the preceding administration; its campaign rhetoric and official hoopla from the lying minister had included freeing of the Chibok girl and achieving total defeat of Boko Haram insurgents.





“Today, the APC government nurses palpable fear over any scrutiny of its errors in Dapchi or its unusual generosity towards Boko Haram which it promised to defeat but now almost sees as a partner with which to share deep and befuddling confidence,” the House caucus stated.



Emphasizing the need for government to seriously heed American billionaire, Bill Gates’ advice by making life more meaningful for citizens who have waited endlessly to see the actualization of APC’s campaign promises, the caucus asserted that life has become more unbearable for even millions of those who voted for APC.



“Although the APC government is known not to be a listening one, last Thursday, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates emphatically stated that the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan was not reflective of the people’s needs.



“It is an open secret that under APC, Nigerians have fared worse on the misery index; those who were rich before are no longer investing, the poor are becoming poorer while almost thirty million Nigerians are either unemployed or underemployed.



“According to Bill Gates, the APC government’s concentration on physical infrastructure (and fat contracts) to the detriment of human capital development exposes the undesirable inadequacies in the health and education sectors.



“Noting the unmatched economic potentials of the Nigerian people who have suffered immensely under the merciless pummeling of APC government’s irresponsive policies that has hampered investment and people’s well-being, Gates had more to say about the negative changes under APC:





“Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad; one in three Nigerian children is chronically malnourished.



“In upper middle-income countries, the average life expectancy is 75 years, in lower middle-income countries, it’s 68; in low-income countries, it’s 62. In Nigeria, it is lower still, just 53 years.



“The Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies investing in the people as one of three strategic objectives. But the execution priorities don’t fully reflect people’s needs, prioritizing physical capital over human capital.

“People without roads, ports and factories can’t flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can’t sustain an economy,” Gates had said.





Expressing concern that the current administration has not been able to adequately build on some of the laudable health, educational and other PDP initiatives, the PDP House caucus urged government to take its advice in good faith instead of taking it as another chance for its propaganda machinery to get busy once again.



“Deceitful lies under a minister who is the grand guru of lying methodologies and ceaseless propaganda along with endless blame shifting cannot and will not help the APC government and Nigeria; it is time for this government to have a sober reflection on Bill Gates’ non-partisan observations and change its ways.



“Under APC, all available statistics indicate poor level of investment and job creation while countless negative attributes of underdevelopment including dilapidated classrooms, poorly-equipped laboratories, uninspired manpower, inappropriately funded tertiary institutions, infant and maternal mortality, crime and insecurity have all ballooned.



“In the interest of coming generations, we plead with this government to desist from the endless futile promises of “We will, we will, we will” which has foisted three years of economic pain and existential anguish on the people.



“It is only by building on the National Health Insurance Scheme which it inherited from the PDP and by making sound judgments in the education and other sectors that impact directly on the people’s well-being that Nigerians can believe that this government is changing for the better,” the PDP House caucus stated.

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