Dr. Rapheal Ogar Oko, Secretary General, Universal Peace Federation-Nigeria
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Secretary General of Universal Peace Federation-Nigeria, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko said Nigeria as a nation has paid the “price by going the way of war” some 50 years ago when her leaders at the time failed to mobilize young Nigerians for peace but rather for war.
Dr. Ogar Oko was speaking in an interview with Awake News’ Korsi [ads1]Senyo at the wake of passages of Nigeria Peace Corp Bill.
“50 years ago, the rulers of our nation failed to mobilize her young people for peace but rather for war and we paid the price by going the way of war,” – Dr. Oko said
“Now, we are witnessing a new dawn where our leaders are mobilizing our young people for peace through the establishment of organizations like Nigerian Peace Corps.” He added
Responding to media reports alleging that the Nigerian lawyer makers took bribes before passing the Nigerian Peace Corp Bill, this is what award winning peace activist and educator, Dr. Ogar Oko has to say:
If bribe will bring peace, it is better than funding wars”.
No amount of allegations against this initiative will be worth the benefits. We need peace focused organizations that will help our nation grow from a culture of war and militancy toward a culture of peace.
According to 2012 Africa Peace Awards winner, “the Nigerian Peace Corps is only the beginning and some of us will support them to grow and raise Nigeria peace couples who will establish peaceful families that will make Nigeria peaceful.”
Dr. Oko is also urging the West Africa Regional body, ECOWAS to consider establishing the West Africa Peace Corp. “We will also promote this idea throughout West African and help ECOWAS to create West Africa Peace Corps too. A world of peace must be established and we have to begin somewhere” He told Awake News