-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Michael EKOKORUWE:
Chief Edwin Uzor, Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on peace building and conflict resolution, has described the role of women and youths as effective relationship and partnership between traditional rulers, president’s general and community development committee members as strategy for sustainable peaceful co-existence in communities of Delta State.
Uzor gave the charge at Owhelogbo Community hall, Isoko North local government area during a one day stakeholders sensitization workshop on ‘Enhancing violent conflict prevention through community early warning and early response for sustainable peace in Delta State’.
He stated that early warning and early response signals through improve synergy will strengthen skills and ability of community stakeholders to identify and address symptoms of conflicts and deal decisively with their root causes before they escalate into violence.
The Special Adviser urged Community Leaders to develop capacity that will bridge the gap, develop long-term partnership that can form broad base for early warning and early response in their communities and generate relevant evidence, identify and address potential conflict symptoms that causes conflict to ensure sustainable peace in the area.
Uzor noted that “the cankerworm presently destroying and tearing communities apart, bringing strive, crisis and potentially weakening the powers of the statutory authorities at the community levels”, must be jettisoned to ensure that our communities remained peaceful towards sustainable development.
While x-raying “Building an effective relationship and partnership between the traditional rulers, president’s general community development committee, as strategy for sustainable peaceful coexistence in communities of Delta State, Professor Uwomano Ben Okpevra, guest speaker during the one day stakeholders sensitization workshop, noted that bad leaders contribute to conflict and crisis in communities, and urged the people to ‘play the game of conflict resolution and prevention.
Traditional rulers from Okpe – Isoko, HRM Agbabe Felix .O. Ekpolo 2 (JP), the Odiologbo of Oyede, HRM Idiare Joseph Emasibeta, at separate goodwill messages, commended Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief Edwin Uzor for the peace sensitization workshop, noting that the youths and vigilante group disbanded in various communities should be made to submit weapons to ensure sustainable peace and development in the communities.
The executive chairman of Isoko North local government area, Hon. Iteire Christian, represented by Henry Obukeowho Esq. Head of Personal Management, Isoko North local government area, also commended Chief Uzor and Governor Okowa for the timely sensitization aimed at nipping crisis and conflicts in the bud.
In attendance was traditional rulers, Presidents General from Isoko North, Rev. Dr. Godspower Agbuduta, Executive Assistant to Governor Okowa on peace building and conflict resolution and Barr. Chief Sam Chukwuji, executive assistant to governor Okowa on peace building and Community relation.
Others are Mr. Orobosa Asiaka, Dcn. Abighe Gabriel, Barr. Afor Irogbo, both S.S.A’s and S.A to Governor Okowa on peace building and conflict resolution, representatives of the women and youths from various communities of Isoko North among others.
