SAPELE/Nigeria: Factions who had been at loggerhead in Aja-Amita, Community in Warri North Local Government Area, resulting in disruption of social economic activities of the people over time, had resolved to tow path of peace.
This decision was taken recently when a Non-governmental Organisation, (NGO) that is in the fore front of mitigating conflict in the Niger Delta, the Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), organised the final round of nine months conflict mitigating intervention the coastal community, sponsored by Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND.
In her remark, the Executive Director of the DICI, Mrs Rachael Missan-Ruppee, said that session tagged: “Promoting Social Cohesion through the Mitigation of Conflict Drivers in Coastal Community of Aja-Amita” Warri North LGA, Delta State concludes the peace building project started in Aja-Amita community in November 2020.
She stated that the session is for all the parties in the leadership tussle in Aja-Amita community, including the elders and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward to berthing permanent peace in the community.”
While reviewing the activities of the nine-months-long conflict mitigation programme, she stated that the programme had made commendable progress in achieving its objectives. She commended the factional groups, elders, youths, women and other stakeholders in Aja-Amita community for participating in the project.
She said, “when we started this project, we anchored it on the following objectives: to reduce community leadership conflict in Aja-Amita; to build capacity of Aja-Amita stakeholders for sustainable conflict transformation, sustainable conflict resolution, and leadership/ communication skills; and lastly, to establish community peace building mechanism in Aja-Amita community”.
According to her, her group was optimistic, and passionate about achieving the objectives of the project.
“DICI will use this intervention to strengthen the capacity of the stakeholders of Aja-Amita to mitigate the drivers of conflict in the community, attract investors to the community and boost social and economic activities.” Misan-Ruppee said, “When the factional groups have been reconciled, the weakened conflict mitigation system would have been improved; the escalating conflict tension will be deescalated; social cohesion will improve; socioeconomic activities will improve greatly; and investors will be attracted to the community.”
Continuing, Misan-Ruppee noted that in the course of implementing the project. A 15-man Aja-Amita Inclusive Peace Committee (AIPC), headed by Hon. Sunny Jeye, was built and strengthened to handle conflict issues in the community. She added that the 15-man AIPC has been inaugurated by Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta (P4P) and is now a sub-chapter in Warri North LGA. She stated, “Having been inaugurated by P4P, AIPC capacity has been built to promote peace, not only in Aja-Amita community, but in the entire Niger Delta.
She noted that despite the huge resources and opportunities for economic and infrastructural development in the community, investors had not been attracted to the community as a result of recurring community leadership conflicts over the years.”
She described the development as unfortunate, noting that numerous opportunities are being lost by Aja-Amita community as the conflict continues unabated. She said: “when investors are attracted to Aja-Amita community, more youths will be gainfully employed; if there is peace and job opportunities, people will be attracted to live in the community, violent clashes will end, positive peace will be restored, and multinational companies operating in the community will enjoy better relationship with their host.”
Responding, the factional groups, represented by Mr. Itse Omajugbo and Comrade Etan Orighoye, thanked DICI and PIND, for their efforts to resolve the crises that had dragged the community leadership from performing for years, and promised to adhere to the agreements reached, as peace is the only tool that will bring development that will make the community grow for the benefit of all.
Lending their support to the peace initiative, the elders, and leaders of thought in Aja-Amita community, comprising Pa Wlson Oti Dorsu; Mr. Jackson Ejueneri; Hon. Sunny Jeye; Mr. Bemigho Urunmatsoma; Hon. Elliot Wilkie; Mr. Thorpe Dorsu; and Mr. Alfred Eduwa Esuku, unanimously agreed to walk the path of peace, and resolved to work on the successes that the project has achieved so as to give the entire people of Aja-Amita community a united community trust leadership.
The event was rounded off with a cultural dance by the famous Omoko dance group of Aja-Amita, while members of all factions danced together as one big family.
