President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia is among those to be honoured with Grand Master of International Peace at the Public Presentation of a book, “THE ECOMOG STORY” on Thursday, March 17, 2016 in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement issued by author of the book, Mr Frank Akinola and given to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Wednesday.

Akinola explained in the statement that “the award is in recognition of Jammeh’s contribution to the restoration of peace in Liberia as a member of the First Gambian Contingent to Liberia and later as Contingent Commander of the Republic of the Gambia.

Also to be honoured are the former Force and Field Commanders of ECOMOG, who would be awarded with the award of Grand Commander of International Peace.

They are retired Lt.-Gen. Arnold Quinoo, Joshua Dogonyaro, and posthumously Maj.-Gen. Rufus Kupolati, Ishaya Bakut, John Mark Inienger and Maxwell Khobe.

The list include Retired Maj,-Gen. Albert Lamptey, John Shagaya, Adetunji Olurin, Lt.-Gen. SVL Malu, Maj.-Gen. Timothy Shelpidi Felix A. Mujakperuo, Gabriel Kpember and Gen. Martin L. Agwai

Those to be honoured with the Grand Master of International Peace are:
Retired Air Commodore P.N. Gana,
Maj.- Gen. AC Nelson-Williams,
Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike,
Air Vice Marshal O. Okanlawon,
Air Commodore J.O. Okoye,
Rear Admiral Anthony Oni
Rear Admiral AG Adedeji,
Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye and
Navy Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin.

Two journalists, Krees Imodibie and Tayo Awotusin, are to be honoured posthumously.

Also listed for honour are Frank Igbwebueze, Nkem Agetua, Alhaji biola Lawal, Lindsay Barret, Rep. Sanni Zorro, Col. Kayode Are and Mr Ben Asante.

The statement said “the honour is designed to appreciate the role of the military in keeping the sub-region peaceful and to encourage peaceful transition of government.

“The award would serve as stimuli to encouraging peaceful handover of power in Africa, which quite often is the reason most African nations go to war,’’ the statement added.

“The International Peace Prize Award for Africa” is to persons who have distinguished themselves in the course of promoting peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups within a country and among countries in Africa.

“It is also among different ethnic nationalities on the African continent,’’ the statement said.

The statement noted that they promoted peaceful coexistence through peacekeeping efforts, arbitration, physical mediation in conflicts and literary contributions such as through books, drama, films and essays.

It stressed the need to discourage sit-tight syndrome among African leaders, which breeds civil resistance and encourages armed struggle/conflicts on the continent.

(NAN)