Following the unfortunate air of insecurity and violence that has prevailed in the Southeast and its attendant effects on the economy, education of the youths and social life, Nollywood actors, musical artists and other performers in the entertainment industry, mainly from the south east extraction have signed up to a new initiative to totally restore peace in the region. They made the call during a courtesy call on the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in Abuja.
According to them, the situation in the Southeast region is an ill wind that blows no good to anyone, the actors however said that such was alien to the people of the zone.
To this end, the actors pledged to support the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an initiative of the national assembly members led by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu that craves for non kinetic means of resolving the issue of insecurity in the zone. The actors vowed to use their talents and skills to preach the message of peace to Ndigbo, Nigerians and the world at large. The A-class actors led by Jim Iyke were Zack Orji, Yul Edochie, Destiny Etiko, Ekene Umenwa Obodo, Okechukwu Edwards Ukeje (Mr Raw), Benedict Johnson, Francis Duru, Noble Igwe, Tina Mbah and a host of others. In his remarks, the deputy speaker lauded the creative spirits of the actors, saying that it was time to use their talents to propagate the gospel of peace and restoration in the south east.
Kalu said that the ripple effects of insecurity has touched on every facet of life in the region. He said that the statistics painted a grim picture on trading losses of up to N3.8 trillion due to the sit-at-home on Mondays just as the transportation sector losses were up to N13 billion, and small businesses crippled by daily losses due to the violence. He added that the shadow casts by insecurity extends far beyond the economic losses, stressing that it suffocates the breath of creativity. Kalu however said that PISE-P which will be unveiled on December 29, 2023 in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State has articulated 8 cardinal pillars of Education; Agriculture; Commerce/Industry; Infrastructural Development; Culture and Tourism; Sports/Entertainment; Governance/Leadership and Reconciliation/Rehabilitation/Reintegration to tackle the challenges, urging all hand on deck.
He said: That is why, in response to the challenges of the South East, a different kind of song is rising – the song of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P). PISE-P is not about guns and boots; for the sounds of guns and the barrels of guns have not helped us in solving the problem in south east. Militarization has not helped us. Kinetic approach to resolving the problem has not been the best solution. If it is not, then there must be something out there that is better than the guns. It is about education, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and cultural revival. It is about restoring the fertile ground where your talents can take root and soar. “These are the tools, pillars upon which PISE-P stands. How do we use what we have to create peace? How do we use what we have to create peace? How do we bring in those ones who are in the bush, offer them free education? How do we use enterpreneural skills to give them sense of inclusion by telling those people who are angry and agitating? We can give you a grant of N1 to N2 million and say come out from the bush. We can help you start a life. Take the grant, let’s mentor you through the Igba-Boi or let us support your business. “How do we use agriculture, we have arable land, fertile land across south east, how do we introduce mechanized farming, increase more people that we will employ there, reduce unemployment rate in the south east, calm the nerves of those who are agitating, focus them where they can go and produce more for the nation through our region.
How do you use infrastructure, how do we bring in those in the hinterlands and calm the nerves of those who feel they are not included? I can go on and on. This is what PISE-P stands for. We can no longer wait for government to do it for us. “That’s why we are coming up with this platform which we must buy into to raise funds all around the world. There are organizations that are interested in peace and if building infrastructure will bring peace, they will come. If building those health centres will bring peace, they will come and partner with us. If redefining agriculture to mechanized farming will bring peace, they will come. If increasing the number of classroom blocks will bring peace, they will come. But they are looking for a platform. PISE-P is that platform”. Kalu who enjoined the actors to deploy their talents towards restoring peace in south east said he was tired of seeing innocent blood of his brothers spilled on the streets.
