WARRI MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORM

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Warri Multi Stakeholder Platform (MSP) is a nonpartisan peacebuilding platform established by the Foundation for the partnership initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in 2018. It has 16 members cutting across traditional rulers, State and Local Government representatives, and community representatives from the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State. Its primary aim is to hold dialogues on the drivers of violent conflict and mutually forge a pathway for addressing those issues, through appropriate conflict management mechanisms.

As part of its strategic approach of promoting peaceful co-existence among the two major ethnic groups in Warri, the MSP held the leaders’ summit in September 2021, with the theme, “Leadership Role in Fostering Peaceful Coexistence, Security and Development”. The summit in Warri, was attended by civil society organizations (CSOs), government functionaries, and politicians within the State and the three Local Government Areas, communities’ leaders and opinion leaders. The objective of the Summit was to create a platform for interactions at strategic level to further promote peaceful co- existence and dialogue amongst the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri, Delta State. Also, to harness social capital and enhance resource availability to the Warri MSP for prevention and mitigation of ethnic violence.

Lack of elite consensus; inability to learn from previous events of communal dispute from other tribes by the Ijaw and Itsekiri; inappropriate engagement of youths; absence of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism in managing conflict and lack of adequate funding to peacebuilding platform like MSP were identified as key factors that thwart socio-political and economic advancement of Warri kingdom.

The MSP members in a post review meeting made a commitment to engage elites from the two ethnic groups to come to a consensus on the composition of persons to be part of the joint investigation visits (JIV) team and communities to be visited among the two ethnic groups in the alleged oil spill in the Abiteye and Utonana Fields operated by Chevron Nigeria limited (CNL. They agreed that though their intervention had doused ethnic tension on possibility of violent conflict, the non-production of oil by the major operator in the area,), caused by lack of elite consensus, has negatively impacted the local, state and national economy.

OUR PRINCIPLES

INCLUSIVENESS

Inclusiveness and diversity are the key operating principles of the Warri MSP in order to achieve its goals and objectives.

TRANSPARENCY

The operations of the MSP are accountable, transparent and in accordance with democratic principles.

VOLUNTEERISM

Members are committed to the objectives of the MSP and show consistency in participation and perseverance in pursuit of the vision.

DIVERSITY

The initial scope of the MSP will be, the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West LGAs in Delta State
DOWNLOAD THE WARRI MSP 2020 REPORT
TERMS OF REFERENCE

  • Prevent the escalation of violent conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Attempt to resolve amicably, existing or new conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State.

  • Provide information regarding actions, statements and/or conducts from persons/communities/institutions that could trigger and/or escalate violent conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Embark on advocacy, community outreach, media awareness and education to promote peaceful co-existence between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Report to the appropriate authorities (traditional rulers, security agencies and/or government institutions) conducts or action likely to inflame tensions between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Embark on conflict prevention and reconciliation efforts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities.

  • Engage with any other stakeholders or initiatives/activities aimed at promoting peace between the two ethnic groups.

  • Participate in trainings that will enhance capacity of members to deliver on role.

.

SUCCESS STORIES

Tina Anya
Member, Central Working Committee, P4P Network, Imo State

While farming, a Mbano woman was beheaded, and her aggrieved relatives accused her husband’s family of killing her. The dispute escalated to the point of threatening the peace within the community. We intervened and visited each warring party to understand their grievances. We then spoke to them about the need for peace and pointed out the toll it took on the entire community. We also explained how sustained conflict could lead to even more deaths without solving the problem or restoring lost life. Our intervention succeeded as the two families agreed to pursue peace and let bygones be bygones.

Apart from mediation, we also carry out peacebuilding training in communities as a conflict prevention and mitigation measure. In 2022, we held this training in about five local governments in Imo state: Mbaitoli, Okigwe, Onuimo, Ahiazu Mbaise, and Isiala Mbano. We maintain relationships with these communities even after the training to get feedback on their progress and to support them when necessary. PIND has also been of great help to the P4P. We can carry out these interventions and step-down training with PIND’s support.

Ayo Okotie
Subchapter Coordinator, P4P Network , Ughelli South LGA Delta State

As a member of the Prevent Committee in my state, I took part in a PIND training on resource mobilization. This training has helped me in managing my NGO, Neserok Development Initiative. I learned how to access and maximize readily available resources, whether cash or kind.

At Nsereok, we are working towards raising a society of young who actively participate in government and governance. We want young people to understand early on that dialogue is better than carrying guns. We are part of the open government partnership (OGP) in Delta State, and we go to schools to teach students the basic principles of OGP.

The goal is for them to understand OGP even as they become leaders. With the 2023 elections approaching, we carried out capacity-building training for youth and women on conflict prevention and resolution. Apart from my work through Neserok, as a P4P member, I also apply my peace-building skills within my community. When there are clashes between farmers and herders, I will mitigate them. In one of these incidents, after mediation, the Fulani herdsman replaced the farmer’s broken cassava stems with fresh ones.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post comment