By: Ajayi Toyyib Olabamiji
The Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, the Commander, Amotekun Security Outfit, Retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, Dr. Babatunde Oyekanmi, and others have jointly called for sustainable peace in Nigeria as the world marks The International Peace Day 2023.

They made the call during a one day summit, organized by the Sustainable Development Club (Department of Local Government and Development Studies) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan yesterday, 26th of September, 2023.
A Press Release by the institution’s Public Relations stated that “The Speakers agreed that; peace has been eluding most parts of Nigeria ranging from activities of Boko Haram, Religious Groups, Robbery, Cultism, among others but concluded that peace is not far from us, adding that; the home in particular, should rise to the occasion by promoting good morals and Godliness”.
Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi, the Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, observed that the antidote to peace is for everybody, including states and countries, to do the right thing at the right time, emphasising that peace is desirable and achievable.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Babatunde Oyekanmi, from the department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, blamed the developed countries for laying the foundation and strengthening conflicts around the world, and most especially in Africa.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Dr. Ayinde Ademola Hamzat represented by a Chief Superintendent, Dr. Femi Okunnowo, observed that conflict is as old as mankind and stressed the need for all security agencies to work and collaborate to bring and maintain peace in our neighborhood and country at large.
While contributing to the topic, Retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, the Commander, Amotekun Security Outfit, noted that; Cultism in tertiary institutions and the society at large, has become a major threat to peace in the country, and stressed the need for right thinking members of the society to join hands with the security agencies to curtail this menace.
He also maintained that the activities of the illegal miners, particularly in Oke -Ogun area, has become a major threat to sustainable peace in that part of the state, adding that most of them are in possession of illegal weapons.
In her own remark, Superintendent Oyewo Olakunmi, the representative of Nigeria Security And Civil Defense Corp in Oyo State said; the NSDC has been able to promote peace by resolving conflicts among families and religious bodies, noting that between January and March this year, her organisation resolved 250 land disputes in Ibadan alone.
The Head of the Department of Local Government and Development Studies, Dr. (Mrs) Adenike Adedokun said the department has been observing the International Day of Peace with the intention of bringing experts together on ways and manners to promote peace in the world.
She observed that the whole world is plagued with disaster and chaos, pointing out that all these have eroded the peace of the world, hence, the need for this peace summit at a time like this.