By Abel Johngold Orheruata
WARRI/Nigeria: National Orientation Agency (NOA), Warri South Delta State, Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officer (COMO), Julie Efejuku, has identified the need for continuous sensitization of the various ethnic groups cohabiting in Delta State to enable them overcome obvious challenges towards promoting peaceful co-existence and their resourcefulness in the State for national development.
She made the call at a One–Day stakeholders sensitization roundtable on Peaceful Coexistence: A Panacea for Development organized by the Agency at the Warri South Council Secretariat Hall, Warri, recently.
Efejuku was of the conviction that if the various ethnic groups are consciously sensitize and informed in the right values, tolerance and attitudes, there will be peaceful coexistence as reasonable people, and they will be equipped to contribute to the development of our nation and also to global affairs.
The NOA astute Orientation and Mobilization Officer decried the current trend where ethnic, tribal and religious sentiments or opium’s are used as tools by selfish individuals in the society for personal political goals and ambition.
According to her, NOA is committed to sensitizing and fully mobilizing the various ethnic groups cohabiting in Delta State, especially in Warri to continue to embrace peace for national development.
Julie Efejuku urged the various ethnic groups to shun vices that will not guarantee a secure future by rejecting negative values and embraces our national core values as the present administration is committed to providing enabling environment for job creation and through Agriculture as alternative to white collar jobs.
In a similar program, the Assistant Director in change of Uvwie local government council, Blessing Oyem (Mrs) said the essence of the roundtable was to create awareness on the need for Peaceful Co-existence and also to educate the people to shun violence and other negative vices for orderly society.
Oyem said the inhabitants in Delta State have contributed significantly to nation building and rendered valuable contributions to the struggle for liberation and nation development as she said the roundtable was in line with the Agency’s mandate to sensitize the people to promote peace and resist any act capable of destabilizing the State.
Earlier, the immediate past chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Warri Branch, Rev. Dr. Justin Okoroji Jnr (PhD), urged the various ethnic groups to always note the principles of peaceful coexistence of upholding the sanctity of sovereign equality of states, cooperation in the fight against a common problem like terrorism.
“Acknowledging with due concerns the diversity of world’s economies and promoting common development of the world’s economies on the basis of equality and mutual benefit are principles of peaceful coexistence “. He added.
Rev Dr Okoroji listed promotion and maintenance of peace and security through dialogue, and recognizing and giving full scope to the important role of the Nation as parts of principles of peaceful coexistence.
In his keynote address, the Executive Director, Value Rebirth & Empowerment Initiative, who was also the Chairman of Uvwie roundtable, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, noted that the stakeholder’s sensitization roundtable has provided a good opportunity and platform for stakeholders alike to engage in peace building and conflict mediation to bring people together and emphasize the dire need for sustainable peace.
He added that, without peace there cannot be good governance, no development, no sustainable livelihood and no advancement of any sort.
Others who spoke at the two occasions include the Secretary General of Uvwie Kingdom, Comrade Lucky Okoro, the representative of the Nigeria Police, Warri Area Command, Florence Ayogu (SP), Alhaji Abdulkarim of Warri Central Mosque, the representative of Okere Kingdom, Chief C. O. Oki (JP), representatives of security agencies, youths, Women Society groups etc, according to them, Peaceful coexistence, signifies in essence the repudiation of war as a means of solving controversial issues and appealed to all to embrace peaceful coexistence in Delta State.
