Foundation for Peace initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND ) in Collaboration With the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs MNDA on Monday held a strategic Peace Building Town Hall Meeting to discourse the best Way foward to bring about sustainable and lasting Peace to the precarous oil rich Niger Delta region.
The Peace Conference Which was held at Villla Toscana Hotel Elizabeth Hall Okpanam road in the Delta State Capital Asaba was was Chaired by HRM Obi Kikachukwudi, the Obi of Obulu-Uno Representing the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The roll call of other key participants at this unique and all inclusive Niger Delta Peace Conference included delegates from the National Orientation Agency, Exco of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Representives from PIND, MNDA, Officers from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force, National Peace Commission and other relevant NGOs.
The Participants manifest list captured many more Civil Society Organizations, nanely, Market Women Union Leaders, Representives of Persons living with disability, Paramilitary Security Outfits, Vigillante Groups, and other relevant stakeholders across board attented the Asaba strategic Peace Building initiative to fine -tune the path Way tosustainable and lasting Peace in the Niger Delta region.
The Chairman of the occsssion, HRM Obi Henry Kikachukwudi, the 2nd Vice Chairman, Representing the Orodje of Okpe in his opening address noted that the Strategic Peace Building initiative organized by the , Partners; For Peace lnitiative For the Niger Delta (PIND) in Collaboration With the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA) took a multifaceted approach in their quest to profer better solutions to solve the problem of how to bring about lasting Peace to the restive Niger Delta region.
The Obulu-Uno Royal Father stated further that this approach Will ensure
that Communities and our Society will be more closely monitored to fish out miscrants who breach Peace efforts in our region.
According to HRM Obi Kikachukwudi , he is impressesed with PIND and MNDA for their readiness, and the bold initiative taken to put together the Asaba Town Hall Meeting Which promises to be very productive due to the unique approach of the Organizers.
The Royal Father observed that the conclutions from the Conference will be used to roll out a policy statemennt that will contain the short-term and long term solutions for the much needed Peace in the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general.
Mr Chris Anyabine, the Dirctor National Orientation Agency, NOA in his speech thanked PIND and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for the new approach in problem solving, particularly as it concerns Peace Building effort in the Niger Delta region.
The Delta State NOA Dirctor remarked in his address that the issues of Security Challenges in the Niger Delta region is a major one, adding that the Agency is happy to be part of this noble effort by PIND and MNDA to get rid of all kinds of precarous elements capable of britching the Peace of the region.
Continuing, the NOA boss said: “In line with our mandate as an Agency of Government charged With the resoonsibility of educating and enlightening the citizenry, we are ready to Partner With PIND, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and any other willing Organizations to bring sustainable Peace to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general.”
The NOA boss stressed that the mandate of his Agency is to get all hands on deck to ensure that there is Peace in our environment and nation to attract foreign and indigenous investors to booster our economy for National development.
Mr Henry Onwuamalieze, Commander, Anioma Security Watch, Ambassador Comrade Okorie Kenneth, Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, South-South, all who spoke concurred that there is need for a paradymn shift from the coventional reactionary approach to preventive measures that can engineer true Peace in our nation.
Mrs Adigwe Lilian, a Prominent Market Women Leader, Comrade Williams Representing People Living with disability in their own contributions asserted that Youths and the Market Women should be carried along at the point of Policy implementation, so that there will be no gaps Which often lead to Policy sumountsault in the quest for Peace in the Niger Delta environment.
High Chief Lawal, Africa’s Coordinator, Partner For Peace Networ and Madam Lilian Nwokobia, Dirctor, Centre For Rural Integration And Development who were both facilitators of the event in their welcome and goodwill messages stated that the Town Hall Meeting was actually a total movement from talking to Peace practising using the most strategic methods in Collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
The duo in their speeches disclosed that the Strategic Peace Building Town Hall Meetingp will take cognisance of all shades of opion using the bottom to top approach Which covers all relevant stakeholders.
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