Taraba State governor, Architect Darius Ishaku
Taraba State government has lauded the mediation intervention of PACT West Africa, an International Non-governmental Organisation, in four Local Government Area of the state that have brought peaceful co-existence between farmers and herders in the 10 benefiting communities.
The PACT West Africa through, “Engaging Local Actors to Promote Peaceful Co-existence Among Farmers and Herders in Taraba State, Nigeria (ELAPC Project)” implemented the USAID Funded project piloted in 10 communities of four focal LGAs; Wukari, Gassol, Gashaka and Bali to achieve the overarching goal of reducing the incidences of violence and promoting peaceful coexistence among Farmers/Herders in Nam-nai, Sabongida, Shira, Bantaje, Akwana, Kente, Suntai, Takalafiya, Garbabi and Mayosilbe communities of the LGAs.
Taraba state governor, Dairus Ishaku at the dissemination/close out event on the gain of ELAPC Project in Abuja Wednesday said the project has brought peaceful coexistence among farmers/herders in the state in the last two.uears adding that it has really impacted positively on the economic activities of the State by ensuring that a peaceful means of resolving crisis among farmers and herders has been established in the four Local Government Areas of intervention.
Represented by the commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Taninga Binga,the Governor said, the USAID intervention project, through Pact West Africa, has really succeeded in strengthening Local Governments and the institutional capacity of the pilots LGAs respectively in addressing land issues and effectively promoting peaceful coexistence in those communities.
“For us in Taraba State, the advent of the Pact West Africa, is a welcome development and a blessing as we now enjoy relative peace among our farmers and herders. The State Government on her part would ensure that the gains of this project are sustained by providing all the necessary support to TSEMA who will continue with the good work after PACT’s exit on 11 March, 2021.”
The Co-Executive Director, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Dr. Muhammad Ashaga urged the Federal Government of Nigeria has to adopt the traditional mechanisms for addressing farmers herders conflict in the country adding that the farmers and herders conflict has been as old as man on the face of the earth but there are traditional mechanisms to resolve this crisis amicably.
He called on the government to take a look at the alternative means of resolving the traditional means of conflict resolution in other countries and imbibe them.
“All we need is political will for our governance to remove politics out of key important elements that is, the issue of security, health, education and the issue of judicial system should be removed. If we remove politics our issue will go on the line trap and we will be able to succeed as a nation.
“The people of Taraba state especially in the selected LGAs are seeing the reduction of crime rate, the reduction of violence crime and extremism has reduced so drastically and that means our governance, our traditional institutions, religion, youth council, women groups must come on board to say security is our own business and for us as people of faith, one important we know is that if you could live by principles of those values of the Golden roles which is live for your neighbors what you love for your self if truly we live by this principles the world be in a better place especially our country.”
The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Taraba chapter, Mr. Bala Tahwa said the PACT Africa implemented project supported by the USAID is one the most important project as a pilot programs that is people focused, communities driven initiative that help the 10 beneficiaries community in the selected four Local Government of the state.
Mr. Bala also said before this project, communities were divided and there have been apathy in terms of engaging the security structures, apathy in term of engaging the legislative, the legal system of our own state and that is why people decided to move into using their own hands, helping themselves by putting law into their own hand in some part of the state.
“But with this project in the four LGAs, we were able to pay the mediation tent and put off early warning and early response mechanism in place that has help the communities today adding that people are now saying yes they can make their community a better place.”
The representative, Federation of Moslem Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Sa’adatu Ngenbon also said from the training received from PACT, they have learnt how to resolve issues related positively with each other for peace to reign in their communities.
She said everybody know that women and children are always are the receiving end of any crisis and that is why these groups suffer most in time of crisis but those of them who are trained have also trained others in crisis management, traumal counselling and other training they received and they are all applying them.
