The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, said Nigeria will support efforts to bring peaceful resolution and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.
He said the Korean peninsula has been a flashpoint of conflict, lingering many decades and therefore deserves the attention of world leaders for a peaceful resolution.
Buhari said this during the opening of World Summit 2022, themed, ‘Reconciliation and Peace in the Korean Peninsula, through Multi Sectorial Peace Building Initiatives in Asia and in the World.’
According to the Special Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, Buhari virtually attended the Summit organised by the Universal Peace Federation.
”The Korean situation as defined by its history and geography is unique in the sense that as the only nation in the Asia-Pacific region that remains divided since the cold war era, peace on the Korean peninsula has far-reaching implications to the region, if not to the world at large.
”The Nigerian Government encourages and supports every effort to promote understanding and a commitment to peace among the governments and people of both Koreas; and has for a long time, maintained relations with them at ambassadorial level.
”We have enjoyed cordial relations with both Koreas in trade and commerce, education, cultural exchange, and technology transfer.
”And so, when it comes to what needs to be done to ensure lasting peace on the peninsula, we are happy to be part of it,” he said.
The President told the Summit strongly backed by Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Hun Sen, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, that all countries in the world, including Nigeria, had one crisis or the other that they are dealing with, adding that ”what is important is the commitment to arrive at a true and lasting peace, through the most peaceful process.”
Addressing the Summit on the situation in North-East Nigeria, Buhari said his administration is implementing a comprehensive peace plan in the region, which has been prone to insurgency in recent years.
He said, ”We are equipping the Nigerian security forces to enable them to effectively contain the contemporary security challenges facing the Nigerian Society, in line with modern rules of engagement.
”We are establishing army and air force universities as a platform and long-term plan for institutionalizing the practice of peacebuilding and conflict management among young Nigerians.
”We have initiated many entrepreneurial/economic projects to address youth bulge and unemployment.
”At the regional level, our administration has shown and will continue to provide strong support to peace initiatives and efforts in the West African sub-region.
”We shall continue to pioneer and collaborate with all such efforts in resolving conflicts and bringing lasting peace and security to the West African Sub-Region.”
Welcoming the establishment of an international Think-Tank on peace in the Korean Peninsula by the UPF, founded Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, Buhari assured the Federation that Nigeria is open to continuous partnerships with both local and international organisations to achieve lasting peace in the world.
He said, ”I am optimistic that if we prioritize mutual co-operation and peaceful co-existence, the growth and prosperity of humanity is assured. Let us all join in the efforts and commit to achieving a just and peaceful world based on these principles.”
Copyright PUNCH.
