By Emaka Nwokocha
The Warri Peace Community Initiative (WPCSI) with support from the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), has expresses profound appreciation to the people of Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities, including traditional institutions for their peaceful disposition towards sustaining peace in Warri Federal Constituency amid rising tension occasioned by the contentious Warri Wards Delineation Report.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, BOT of WPCSI, Sylvester Okoh, JP, and other officials of the group, comprising Professor Andrew Agboro, Dr. Emeka Edike, Alhaji Suileman Mustapha, and Paul Epe, WPCSI applauded the leadership of the three ethnic nationalities for what it described as a remarkable show of maturity, statesmanship, and commitment to dialogue during the recent ward and polling unit delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency.
WPCSI noted that scary developments in recent weeks had tested and proved the resolve of the people of Warri to foster peace, noting that all the stakeholders had patiently and courageously navigated the complexities of the electoral ward and unit delineations following a Supreme Court judgment. WPCSI said, “While transitions and redefinitions of electoral boundaries frequently generate intense debates and differing perspectives among communities, we are highly inpressed by the unified resolve of the three ethnic nationalities to prioritise peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and civic engagement over division and conflict.”
It added, “We particularly thank the community leaders, youth representatives, and socio-cultural organizations from the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri nations for heeding the call of the Delta State Government and civil society actors to sheath their swords, maintain calm, and engage legal and constitutional avenues to address all grievances. “Your commitment to dialogue over unrest is commendable and validates the rich history of shared humanity and collective progress that define the oil-rich city of Warri.”
WPCSI added, “As we move forward, we urgently call on all stakeholders across the three ethnicities to sustain this hard-won peace,” stressing that “Sustainable development, economic prosperity, and fair political representation can only flourish in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual understanding.”WPCSI urged community leaders and the youth to continue exercising restraint, avoid inciting or inflammatory rhetorics on social media, and focus on collaborative nation-building.
WPCSI appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant authorities to ensure equity, transparency, and continuous consultation in the final implementation phase of the ward delineation process. WPCSI added, “Warri belongs to all indigenous tribes. The future of our federal constituency rests in our collective capacity to live together, respect the rule of law, and embrace our diversity as a source of strength.”
WPCSI pledged its unwavering commitment to promote sustainable peace in Warri, saying, “We remain fully committed to supporting peace-building efforts and facilitating continued dialogue among the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri peoples.””Let us continue to work together to ensure that peace, fairness, and stability thrive in Warri and its environs,” WPCSI concluded.