The Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) has urged peaceful coexistence among nations as the globe observes today as the international day of peace.
In a statement, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, President of SAAF, urged Nigerians to keep up their peaceful coexistence because it was the only way for the nation to achieve lasting peace.
Particularly concerned about the protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Mrs. Ajimobi pleaded with world leaders to take action to stop the death toll and destruction of property brought on by the conflict’s extension. “As of the previous month, the war in Ukraine has seen more than six thousand civilian deaths while the number of refugees has risen to over 6.6 million.”
She also noted the economic implication of the war with the destruction costing Ukraine as much as $113.5billion while about $200 billion would be needed to rebuild, money that could have been used for other developmental purposes.
“Back home in Nigeria, the Boko Haram crisis, banditry and kidnapping have continued, leading to avoidable losses with the attendant implications for the economy of the country. Due to banditry, the economic livelihood of the rural populace have been affected since the rural populace depend largely on farming. Most people have left the farmlands and have taken refuge in neighbouring areas believed to be safer.”
The SAAF president noted further that kidnapping had led to financial losses through payment of ransom , indebtedness of families through unplanned expenses and in most cases, forceful closure of businesses and relocation. “The book haram insurgency has equally led to the disruption of lives with many people taking refuge in IDP camps.”
“ As the world mark’s the International Day of Peace, I pray that we all embrace peace in order to make our society a better place. It is only in an atmosphere of peace that development and humans can thrive. Let us embrace peaceful co existence”, she said.
