Deputy Speaker plans six-month peace project for S’East

A not-for-profit organisation, the Peace in South East Project, has unveiled a six-month action plan geared towards implementing its eight pillars of thematic focus to bring about peace in the region.

The PUNCH reports that PISE-P, an initiative of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, is an intervention strategy with a focus on the use of non-kinetics means to address the security challenges in the South-East zone.

Unveiled on December 29, 2023, PISE-P's eight pillars include education, agriculture, commerce/industry, infrastructural development, culture and tourism, sports/entertainment, governance/leadership and reconciliation/rehabilitation/reintegration.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu was quoted as saying that the six-month strategic plan would witness improvement in education and healthcare delivery amongst other developmental pursuits.

He said, “We already have what we call our six-month strategic plan, our operational plan that will be addressing socio-economic challenges, enhancing security and peacebuilding, stakeholder engagement, strategic implementation, resource management, monitoring and evaluation, communication and awareness – all these things have been done by experts and we are looking at achieving and promoting Sustainable Development Goals.

“We'll look at conflict integration and peacebuilding. We are going to be looking at enhancing access to education and healthcare. We are going to look at infrastructural development, empowerment and capacity building, community engagement and participation as well as sustainable peace and stability.

“We are going to be looking at a percentage increase in job opportunities created among the women. We will check the income level of the people as well.

“We will look at business development, the number of new businesses established or supported, the number of businesses we can bring back to the South-East through our advocacy.”

Kalu also revealed that a town hall meeting with all lawmakers across the five eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu would be held in April 2024 to deliberate on strategic lawmaking, and conflict resolution among other issues.

“There is a town hall meeting in the South-East which is going to be around the Easter period. We will meet with all the legislators in one room, and they are going to discuss how they want the legislative year to look like,” he said.

He appealed to armed men still hiding in the bush to come out and submit their weapons to security agencies for peace to fully return to the region.

“All the boys who are carrying guns, there is hope for them because we are going to get them gainfully employed. They are our brothers. They are not going to be slaughtered or wasted. We are going to bring them closer and make them have a sense of importance,” he added.