Initiators of Peace in the Southeast Project have vowed to engage all influential stakeholders from the region and across the country, advocating for a non-kinetic approach to resolving the conflict.

Representatives of the Project made the vow during a TVC News Breakfast show broadcast from their studio in Abuja. The interactive show on the topic “Tackling insecurity on southeast” was part of the public sensitization programmes initiated by the Peace in the Southeast Project (PISE-P) seeking the resolution of the crises in the region through peaceful dialogue.

One of the speakers, Hon Elisha Karu from Gombe State, revealed that the insecurity in the Southeast is also affecting all parts of the country and described the nature of the conflict as an “identity crisis”

He traced the origin of the raging conflict in the Southeast which has lingered for two years and still counting to the failure of the Federal government to respond through dialogue to the popular grievances and community concerns of the people of the region.

“We blame the problem on the lack of response to the popular grievances raised by individuals and groups from the region. Whatever affects the region affects the nation,” he stressed.

Insisting on a non-kinetic approach to ending the conflict he observed that the military approach using force has failed, hence requires the use of dialogue to settle the grievances of the people of the region.

PISE-P Head of Media, Mrs. Mary Ikoku, who was part of the panel, lamented the costly impact of the insecurity situation, saying that Southeast is losing billions of Naira daily to the crises. She frowned at the activities of non-state actors who are terrorizing their people, reiterating the need for dialogue to end the conflict. “The non-kinetic approach is taking into cognizance the culture of the people, their behavioral pattern and we say, ‘engage them in dialogue, have a better understanding of what their issues are and address them to bring back Southeast to the glorious past of how the region used to be’,” she said.

The panelists stated that PISE-P aims at engaging critical stakeholders that have significant influence within the region to reverse the problems.

According to Mrs. Ikoku, the project is receiving vast acceptance from across the stakeholders, clarifying that when peace is achieved the project will rely on the seven pillars of the project as tools for the rebuilding of the battered economy of the region.

“We are looking into the seven to eight pillars of the PISE-P- such as the building of tech-hubs across the region, resuscitation of the apprentice system of mentorship known to the Igbos, the development of Agriculture, Entertainment, Transportation, culture and tourism in addition to provision of good leadership,” she said.

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