Taraba Peace Efforts: TSBPCM Holds Strategic Meeting With Stakeholders in Jalingo
By Lynn Adda
The Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, TSBPCM, says Taraba State cannot have sustainable peace that can guarantee rapid development and transformation as envisioned by the Agbu Kefas administration without a comprehensive conflict transformation framework.
The Chairman of the Bureau, Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon stated this on Wednesday during a consultative meeting held at the Bureau’s office in Jalingo,, the state capital.
The meeting which was at the instance of the Bureau was attended by the members and appointees of the Governor assigned to peace building and conflict resolution in the state.
Gov Agbu Kefas
The appointees include the Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to Governor Agbu Kefas conflict resolution, peace building, advocacy and farmers-herders conflicts among others.
Addressing the maiden meeting, Bishop Innocent Solomon said their appointments and the establishing of the TSBPCM reaffirmed the Governor’s commitment to addressing conflicts in the state through strategic, effective and comprehensive data based approach.
Dr Innocent Rubiruka Solomon
“With you and us in the Bureau, we shall confront headlong the multifarious conflicts that are recurrent in Taraba State.
“Our readiness to work as a Bureau to tackle all issues related to conflicts in the state which have drawn the state backward and have given birth to many vulnerable situations in different communities in the state should not be in doubt.
“The Bureau believes that the Dr Kefas Agbu Led administration’s strategy for Peace and sustainable development will produce one of the best models for conflict management in the Country.
“This is the first time in the history of Taraba State where you don’t only have a Bureau but you also have capable hands injected into the conflict and management.
“It is a remarkable effort by His Excellency and a demonstration that he wants to address the conflict situation in Taraba State.
“There had never been such a massive approach of high caliber of persons, competent persons and grassroot individuals that have been brought to do the very important work in the conflict management in Taraba State”.
He therefore appealed to Tarabans to give Governor Kefas the necessary support and cooperation; eschew violence and acrimony at all times and embrace dialogue as the most productive way to resolving conflicts or disagreements.
“We cannot have sustainable peace in the State that will guarantee rapid development and transformation as envisioned by this administration without a comprehensive conflict transformation framework which the Bureau is working on.
“This framework will take cognizance of mechanisms for addressing conflicts in Taraba State as follows: 1. PREVENTION, 2. MANAGEMENT, 3. PEACE BUILDING, 4. RESOLUTION, 5. TRANSFORMATION, 6. ADVOCACY and 6. DIPLOMACY.
“Other structures that are critical include: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.
“The BUREAU recognizes that Government alone cannot fund conflicts prevention and resolution especially in Taraba state with the history of intractable conflicts in many areas, so the Bureau will look both inward and outward to donors, International organizations and partners.
“The Bureau is also trying to reach other sister organizations like the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in order to learn from their experiences so as to improve on our art of conflict management in the state. We shall equally utilize the Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution department of the TSU effectively and other experts/consultants in the field for our strategic management approach.
“Let me assure you as our primary stakeholders and foot soldiers of H.E that we shall work together to deliver on our mandate”.
Hon Dan Asali Biru
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Taraba State Governor on Conflict Management, Hon Dan Asali Biru, who commended the Governor for the choice of the Chairman of the Bureau in particular and the members in general, pledged that the Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants will work closely with the Bureau to make the Governor and Tarabans proud.
