Delta govt  restate place of dialogue in crisis resolution

… As NGO calls for establishment of peace bureau

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, handed down the remark yesterday at a-one-day workshop in Asaba, organized by an NGO, Search for Common Ground.

Uzor reaffirmed the import of a peaceful society as paramount in development and growth, saying that the state government was ever prepared to welcome initiatives and partnership that would entrench peace in the land.

The special adviser, who made the remark while delivering the keynote address at the workshop, enjoined warring and disputing parties to always explore avenues open for dialogue to settle dispute, stressing that dialogue was the sure way to achieve lasting peace.

The Project Director of Search for Common Ground, Mrs Bridget Affia, appealed to the Delta State Government to sustain the progress achieved so far in peace building in the state by her organisation.

Mrs Affia, speaking on a lecture, title, “Learning, Dissemination And Sustainability,” recounted the success stories achieved during NGO’s 28 months of engaging with farmers, cattle herders and the communities in Delta State.

She noted that as the program of her organisation was coming to an end, it would be better for the state government to put in place a mechanism to take over the project.

The director therefore advocated the establishment of a peace and conflict resolution agency or ministry to manage and sustain the current peace and activities relating to achieving peace in the different communities.

Highlights of the event was the presentation of success reports by different representatives from the Community Peace Committee (CPC), Community Development Council (CDC) and representatives of the cattle herders.