"Government Responses Are Not Enough" — Advocate Demands Permanent Peace Structure

A humanitarian and peace advocate, Pastor Shedrach Oka, has urged the Cross River State Government to establish a permanent peacebuilding structure aimed at addressing the persistent communal conflicts affecting several communities across the state.

Oka, who serves as Director of Programmes at the Humanitarian and Peace Advocate Centre for Family Peace, made the call in an open letter addressed to Governor Bassey Otu. He proposed the creation of a Cross River State Peace Initiative (CRSPI), a framework designed to provide a long-term solution to recurring disputes and violent clashes.

According to him, the state needs an institutionalized approach to peacebuilding rather than relying on emergency interventions whenever crises erupt. He argued that a dedicated peace initiative would help identify conflict triggers early, facilitate dialogue among communities, and strengthen mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.

The advocate noted that communal disputes have continued to threaten lives, livelihoods, and development in several parts of Cross River State. He stressed that sustainable peace requires consistent engagement with stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and government agencies.

Oka further appealed to Governor Otu's administration to prioritize peacebuilding as a critical component of governance, emphasizing that lasting peace would create an enabling environment for investment, economic growth, and social stability.

His proposal comes amid renewed concerns over communal tensions in parts of the state and growing calls for proactive measures to prevent conflicts before they escalate into violence.