Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) CENTRE: PHOTOS: JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONAL EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF WEST AFRICA (RECOWA) AT DREP! THEME: JUSTICE RECONCILIATION AND PEACE IN WEST AFRICA.

Catholic Arch Bishop of Jos, the Founder/CEO of Drep centre hosted representatives of different parts of West Africa body of RECOWA. This includes major..

stake holders with regards to peace in the state, security personnel, religious leaders, ethnic/traditional leaders, peace-building workers, civil societies, and organizations.

THEME: Justice and Reconciliation in West Africa; The Way Forward.

VENUE: Dialogue Reconciliation & Peace (DREP) Centre, Kwang, Rayfield Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

In attendance we had representatives of key peace organization from Ghana, Benin republic, Cote D’voire, West Africa Bishops/Pastors, West Africa Muslim leaders, Miyetti Allah Breeders Association, RECOWA executives, Drep Centre team, CBCN, Traditional rulers, etc.

The Emir of Wase in Plateau State Nigeria, gave very vital recommendations for peaceful co-existence among us in West Africa. We felt his recommendations should be publicly published on our blog site for all West Africa citizens, and the world at large, to read and put it into practice.

· Make a personal commitment for non-violence

· When you see someone in trouble, lost, confused, please provide help.

· Respect one another irrespective of their religion, race, or faith.

· Show kindness to vulnerable people, the homeless, those with physical or cognitive disabilities, the weak and other people.

· Speak out peacefully against prejudice and discrimination when you see it.

· Regard people who hurt your feelings as your personal teachers on how to maintain a peaceful nature.

· If you are a member of a religious community, ask how you can get more involved in promoting peace through its program and ministries.

· Be useful to the community. Be self-employed if need be to avoid idleness, and joblessness. Choose a career that yields only good things for our families, our communities, country and planet.

· Be pleasant to one another; wear a smile, say hello to people you walk pass by, or say “Salaam Alakum (Peace be on to you)”.

· Serve on community projects and task forces that work to make your neighborhoods, suburb, and work places safer and peaceful.

CONCLUSION BY EMIR OF WASE

The American Philosopher Michael Pessy (1988) has noted that religion at its best is liberate. Ignorance of the complexity of religion had led to a manipulative and oppressive use of religion in igniting or fueling violent conflicts in the society. Indeed religion is a formidable force in re-emphasizing the significance of forging ahead and promoting peaceful co-existence in a pluralist society like Nigeria.

CONCLUSION BY DIRECTOR OF DREP CENTRE REV. FR. BLAISE AGWOM

I wish to conclude with the short story of a boy who had the rare misfortune of getting into fierce argument with four other boys, all of them twice his size. They were very shocked when the small boy drew a line between them and him on the ground and dared all of them to cross the line if they were born of women. When they did, the little boy looked at them and just smiled and said, “You see, now you are on my side, we are all brothers.” Thank you all for coming to DREP. Your presence here is an affirmation that we all are on one side of peace. We pray that Jesus, the Prince of Peace may help us all with His grace, to work for, and build a peaceful and serene world where we all shall see ourselves as brothers and sisters and treat one another as such. God Bless you all.