By Emeka Nwokocha
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), has inaugurated new members of the Prevent Council of Delta State.
The inauguration of the new members took place at Villa Tuscana Hotel, Asaba, during a 2-day capacity strengthening training for members of the Prevent Council, tagged, “Capacity Strengthening for Prevent Councils in Delta State: Mobilizing Traditional Institutions and Conflict Mediators for Peace and Development in the Niger Delta.”
Speaking at the event, the Network Coordinator for Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, Chief Lawal Africas spoke extensively on PIND’s achievements in fostering peace in the region through sustained economic development and Peace-building prorammes.
Chief Africas said that the Prevent Council was inaugurated in 2022, to play the following roles: positive influencer and conflict mediator; collaborate with Partners 4 Peace Network, Prevent Committees and other stakeholders in promoting peace; and respond to identified potential precursors of violence and instability in communities.
Chief Africas, while noting that violent conflict in the Niger Delta is driven by a variety of interrelated and overlapping factors, including historical tensions, grievances, and proliferation of armed groups, said, “If these tensions and grievances are not addressed appropriately, they could escalate into violent conflict and derail peace in the region,” stressing the need for strategic engagement of notable traditional institutions and stakeholders through the Prevent Council, to proffer advice and ignite actions to prevent escalation of violence.
Continuing, he charged the members of the Prevent Council to be committed to the task of preventing and mitigating conflicts in communities and across Delta state.
Speaking, the Chairman of Prevent Council, Delta State, Dr. Andrew Agboro urged members of the council to be committed to the council’s activities geared towards promoting peace in the state.
Continuing, he charged old and new members of the Prevent Council to leverage the training they have received to foster peace in the society, stressing that the input of every member is fundamental in achieving the goal of the council.
Speaking, HRM. Solomon Okukeren III, The Ovie of Arhavwarien kingdom and Co-Chair of the Prevent Council, described the capacity strengthening training as a welcome development. He strongly emphasized the importance of traditional rulers’ roles in promoting peace in the communities and the state.
He expressed optimism that through deepened collaboration and sustained activities of the Prevent Council, more progress would be made in fostering peace and economic development of communities and Delta state.
The participants pledged commitment to promoting peace in their communities, describing the training as educative and inspiring.
The resource persons, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe, and Mr. Kingsley Akeni trained the members of the Prevent Council on the following topics: Conflict trends and dynamics in the Niger Delta; knowledge and experience sharing on recent conflict issues; peace building and community development approaches; sustainability of peace building process; conflict trends and dynamics in the Niger Delta; the role of traditional rulers in peacebuilding; and managing land and boundary disputes.
PREVENT COUNCIL PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO CP SURAJUDEEN OLUFEMI ABANIWONDA
Members of the Prevent Council paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Surajudeen Olufemi Abaniwonda, and sought the collaboration of his office in promoting peace and achieving the goals of the council.
Speaking, the facilitator and consultant of the training, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe thanked CP Surajudeen Abaniwonda for sending his representative to the programme, describing it as a show of commitment by his office to support the activities of the Prevent Council.
Amb. Egedegbe briefed CP Surajudeen Abaniwonda on the roles of the Prevent Council in promoting peace in Delta State, emphasizing the need for synergy between the Council and his office.
Continuing, he acknowledged the tedious task and challenges the police, other security agencies and relevant stakeholders are confronted with in combating crime and insecurity in the state, spanning land boundary issues and other prevailing security concerns, saying that the activities of the Prevent Council aim to complement the operations of police and relevant agencies of government to ensure a safe society.
He expressed the need for Delta State government to be fully aware of the activities of the Conflict Prevent Council towards complementing the government’s effort in promoting peace in the state.
He urged CP Surajudeen Abaniwonda to draw the attention of governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the activities of Conflict Prevent Council whenever he has an opportunity to meet with him.
Responding, CP Surajudeen Abaniwonda commended PIND for creating the Conflict Prevent Council and applauded Amb. Edewor Egedegbe and his team for coordinating the activities of the Prevent Council towards promoting peace in the state.
He pledged unalloyed support to the Conflict Prevent Council to ensure it makes more progress in peace building in the state, stating that police would collaborate with the Prevent Council to make better progress in combating violence arising from land boundary issues and crime in the state.
He added, “Without collaboration with organisations like yours, we can’t do our work effectively.”
He expressed worry about the growing tendency of the youth to perpetrate violence in communities, stating that collective effort is needed to arrest the dangerous trend and promote peace in the state.
He said, “I urge you all to step up your collaboration with us. We’ll continue to work with you and collectively move the society forward and make our country better.”
CP Surajudeen Abaniwonda appealed to Amb. Egedegbe to ensure the Prevent Council extends its conflict prevent and mitigation programmes to youths and the President Generals of various communities in order to steer them towards promoting peace.
He stressed the vital role family plays in building a peaceful society, expressing the compelling need for parents to be up and doing in impacting the right values and morals to their children in order to promote peace in society.
The highpoint of the 2-day event was presentation of certificates to the new members of the Prevent Council.
