As the world marks the International Day of Peace today, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has urged Imo State indigenes in particular and Nigerians in general to make peace their watch word.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Governor noted that peace was necessary for every society to make progress and achieve development.

“This year’s International Day of Peace provides us with yet another opportunity to pursue peace in all our dealings and more importantly, in our relationship with our fellow human beings.

“As children of God, we must seek peace and reflect deeply on the values of peace and tolerance, and do away with the things that retard our resolve to pursue the peace God has given to us,” he said.

Uzodimma identified ethno religious discrimination, intolerance, selfishness, greed, criminality among others as some of the things that separate us from pursuing peace with one another with the attendant consequences.

The governor, who said that all Nigerians and the global community must make conscious efforts to seek and pursue global peace, lauded the United Nations “for setting aside this day to enable us come to terms with God’s demand from us.”

“The peace we pursue today has a lot to say on how we live tomorrow and we cannot afford to make mistakes,” he said.