Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state has called on all Deltans and residents to respect the peculiarities of the state, remain tolerant and moderate social behaviours as part of strategies to entrench sustainable peace and security in the state.
The governor spoke on Thursday at the peace building workshop organized by the office of the Special Adviser to the governor on peace building and conflict resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor and held at Government House Annex, Warri.
Represented by secretary to the state government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the governor said there is bound to be conflict in every human organization but in the midst of the crisis, individuals involved should fashion out ways to tolerate each other and respect views of others.
He said community leaders should not allow conflict to degenerate into full blown battle that could result to unwanted disasters, bloodshed and death of people whom they are meant to protect.
The workshop has the theme “Community Early Warning, Early Response as a Tool to Facilitate Conflict Prevention in Selected Communities in Delta state.” Governor Oborevwori said the state government is not leaving any stone unturned for peace to reign as part of his MORE Agenda.
He believes that conflict which is a natural phenomenon occurs as a result of scarcity of resources which cannot meet the need of everyone in different communities across the state.
He said businesses cannot thrive in an environment where there is no peace and security. He said though there is no community where conflict does not arise, he agreed that there is no conflict that cannot be resolved.
He called for community leaders to quickly identify causes of crisis and find means of amicably resolving them without the conflict escalating into full blown war that could lead to loss of lives and property.
Special Adviser to the governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, in his keynote address, said the workshop was one of the strategies for actualizing one of the key elements of the MORE Agenda which is Enhanced Peace and Security.
He said there are currently 2,350 recognised communities in Delta state, noting that despite the number of communities, the state government is very much interested in the peaceful co-existence of all communities in the state.
Chief Uzor, who has visited several communities in the state to resolve conflicting issues where peace now reigns, told the gathering comprising Urhobos, Itsekiris, Isokos and Ijaw, that: “It is our candid opinion that community early warning signals and early response is a veritable tool to facilitate violent conflict prevention and resolution that would enhance community stability.”
He called on communities to participate in crime prevention “where individuals can act as partners to prevent crime by serving as witnesses, intervening in attempted offenses, taking precautions to prevent theft of property and establishing guidelines for children’s behavior.
Chief Uzor said his office is interested “in crime prevention and control strategies which refer to society’s attempts to curb crimes before they occur, rather than punishing them after they have been committed.”
He believes that the best way to fight crime is putting strategies in place to prevent crime. He called on community leaders to join hands with the state government to prevent crime in Delta state.
Chairman of the workshop and the Pere of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, said the workshop was to form a common ground for peace and security in Delta state. The Akugbene monarch who is also the first vice chairman of council of traditional rulers in the state, said once there is a breakdown of peace and security there will be problem in the state.
He said: “We may have our own differences but we must be able to come together as Deltans and tolerate one another. We are all Deltans and we must learn to tolerate each other. Our ability to live together is what will bring peace to Delta state.”
Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Senior Policy Adviser to the governor, said there is no alternative to peace, saying “it is important that every community should know that we cannot do without peace.”
In his contribution, the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom said there cannot be peace when there is no equal right and justice for all. He commended Governor Oborevwori whom he said has been an advocate of peace prior to becoming the governor of the state.
He said: “As traditional rulers we should promote peace in our domains. Peace is the absence of no conflict. Elders, chiefs and traditional rulers should block issues that promote crisis in their domains. Let us at the community level ensure there is peace so that government could focus on development.
“Crisis issues come up because people are dissatisfied with what they have. It is money that leads to crisis, especially in oil producing communities in the state. Let us pursue money gently so that we don’t cause more crisis for our state.”
Two resource persons delivered lectures on issues of peace. Mrs. Caroline Usikpedo-Oliseowe delivered lectures on Role of Women and Youths in Facilitating Community Early Warning and Response while Professor Uwomano Ben Okpevra, a professor of peace and conflict studies at Delta State University, Abraka, delivered lectures on Community Early Warning Signal and Early Response as a Tool to Violent Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Community Stability.
