The Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, State Governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, Political/Religious and Tribal Leaders to utilize Mediation in addressing some of the political, labour, religious and ethnic crises plaguing our nation.
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The call was made by Chief Emeka J.P. Obegolu, FICMC, FCIArb (UK), President of the Institute, while addressing newsmen on the efficacy of Mediation as a peace building mechanism in any nation. He stated that the efficacy of Mediation cannot be overemphasized, as the process promotes open dialogue, which is a necessary strategy in conflict intervention.
The Institute recalled that In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari called for the United Nations to mediate with militant Islamist group Boko Haram, to secure the release of the Chibok girls; in January 2017, ECOWAS appointed the Nigerian President as “Chief Mediator” and the Ghanaian President, John Mahama,as Co-Mediator; in October 2019, the Speaker of Egypt’s parliament asked our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, to mediate its dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam.
The Institute invites President Buhari to lead the initiative to mainstream mediation as a preferred means of addressing security, religious, political and ethnic challenges facing Nigeria today, and threatening the foundations of democracy in Nigeria.
The President recalled that during the 2018 ADR Conference of ICMC, Governor Lalong noted that Plateau state is a direct beneficiary of mediation and conciliation, and that the deployment of security operatives during conflict was no longer yielding the desired results, and consequently endorsed mediation as a means of managing communal disputes.
The President called on all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to take urgent steps towards promoting a Mediatory approach to conflicts. He lamented the growing political tensions in the country, both inter-party and intra-party while warning that the developments, where left unchecked, have the capacity of derailing democracy, distracting elected and appointed public office holders, and culminating into breakdown of law and order.
He stated that the Institute has a large pool of trained and certified Mediators and peace builders that can be engaged positively in finding lasting solutions to our multifaceted challenges.
It takes a Mediator’s skill set to lead a nation as large and culturally, politically and religiously diverse as Nigeria. ICMC is willing to lend support to the Federal Government to effectively tackle the complex political, religious and ethnic disputes that are dividing our country.
Signed,
Chief Emeka J.P. Obegolu, FICMC, FCIArb(UK)
President, ICMC
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