Let's Join Hands To Sustain Peace In Bayelsa: SPA

 

The Bayelsa State Peace Architecture,   a body established by Search for Common Ground to continue preaching Peace in the Niger Delta Region when it leaves, has called on relevant stakeholders in the state to join hands in making sure that Peace in sustained in the state.

Speaking on Monday in Yenagoa during the July meeting, the  chairman  of the State Peace Architecture, Alfred Walson-Belemote,  Commissioner for Community Development represented by the Secretary of the SPA, Dr. Preye Inebaraton  disclosed to sustain the Peace, projects have been sighted in some communities  adding that already 16 projects were ongoing in the communities.

He said that it was  a means of providing alternative livelihood for natives and youths as part of the peace building efforts.

Calling for the establishment  of Community Peace Commission in Bayelsa State,  the chairman of SPa maintained that  over 200 cases have been attended to across the communities within the period this twenty months period that Search has been on ground.

He said: "The sustainability process is very clear, we have made presentations at the regional level that we have series of projects.  We are calling on other stakeholders to be involved in the Search for Common Ground Programme. Without Peace, there can't be any development  so it is a collective work and we are calling on every body to participate.

"SOA has attended to over two hundred peace building related cases in Bayelsa Communities  as part of the transforming criminality and violence project in the Niger Delta.

"Search for Common Ground is tended towards deliverables  which are skilled acquisition and other projects that will spur solution to change bring development and to see how we can resolve conflicts.

"It shows that beyond looking for Peace, we are also looking at how we can solve this problem and create alternative means of livelihood so that  these persons can stand out and strong.

"Also, on  the Community Peace Commission, we have decided that there is need for peace process to commence from the communities and every conflict  starts from a community and if they are not carried along in the solving the conflicts, the challenges  escalates.

" Now that we have been  able to sustain Peace from the community level to local government and to the state level, peace architecture as orchestrated  by Search for Common Ground, we are looking at a situation where  when Search leaves, we will have an institutionalized organization that should look at conflict from the rural areas to the state level.

 "The Community Peace Commission is tailored towards these rural problem and how we can solve them locally. We make provision for other aspects without making provision for peace. It means that we are neglecting the role that Peace plays in  the society and the commission is tailored towards addressing that aspect of the society.

"We have a been able to use this past eighteen months to look at the issues of drug abuse, cultism,  herdsmen, community Chieftancy tussle, land dispute and proffer solutions.

The Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubraye Dakolo who is the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom ere presented  by the Vice Chairman of the Council and Obanobhan of Ogbia, King Dumaro Charles-Owaba commended the SPA for the interventions so far, calling for more engagements with the traditional institutions to achieve set objectives.

He disclosed that crisis and conflicts around in recent time because of oil exploration and exploitation Cali g on government ste various levels to create jobs for the youths.

"What we are hearing here shows that SPA is really working for the Peace of Bayelsa  The Traditional institution' is happy with you people are doing but you should partner with all the necessary institutions in the state including the traditional  institutions because we are the custodians of the traditions of the people.

"Yes, you have done a lot  but  if not that I'm here, I won't know that such an important institution is working for us is the state.

"One of the thing causing problem in  our communities is oil exploration   and exploitation. Now these youths have got education but no jobs, the youths don't have any job to do so they are worried and that is why we are having crisis.

"The government should be informed that an idle mind is the devil's workshop although they are trying by initiating skill acquisition programmes for the youth but they should bo more than that. The federal and state governments should collaborate to engage the youths in skills.

"The people should be educated on what is happening. It is very necessary. The  SPA should carry out town hall meetings  and carry all structures along. We should partner and collaborate so that our job will be  very effective." 

Bishop Dotimi Egbegi representing Reverend Father JosephOplelema

 the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that CAN was ready to partner with Search for Common Ground to  to ensure that there is Peace in the Communities, the Local Government  add in the State.

"We appreciate what the government is doing and we are glad that there are individuals that are willing to work and ensure that Peace  is sustained in in Bayelsa." 

Recall that Bayelsa State Peace Architecture is established  by Search for Common Ground with funding from the European Union meant to sustain  Peace in the Niger Delta Region.

The initiative is  anchored on a Community centred approach in transforming criminality and violence in 66 communities  which were selected from 33 Local Government Areas of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta.