The Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) inaugurated Prevent Councils in three states in the Niger Delta Region: Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Cross River. The events took place from December 5-7 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, December 6-8 in Calabar, Cross River, and December 7-9 in Asaba, Delta. The theme of the events was “Strengthening Community Structures for Sustainable Peace and Development in the Niger Delta.”
PIND initiated the Prevent Council to strengthen community peacebuilding structures by engaging traditional rulers as positive influencers and conflict mediators. At the formal inauguration of the councils in Calabar, PIND’s Executive Director, Tunji Idowu, said the initiative was an acknowledgment of the critical role that traditional rules play in maintaining peace and security within their communities to their benefit and that of governments at all tiers.
“The central goal of the Prevent Council is to promote and sustain social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in society with no one left behind,” he said. “It emphasizes that sustainable peace must involve multilateral engagements with traditional institutions as critical positive influencers and conflict mediators in their respective states and communities.”
Mr. Idowu also noted that PIND, through its Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) and Partner for Peace (P4P) Network, has been amplifying the efforts of local peace agents. Through capacity building, PIND helps the peace actors respond in a more coordinated and targeted manner to the rapidly changing conflict dynamics in the region. PIND currently has 10,113 peace actors in P4P, who have intervened in over 2000 conflicts since the Network’s inception in 2013.
On the second day of the inauguration, the IPDU trained members of each Prevent Council in Understanding Peace and Conflict, the Role of Traditional Rulers in Peacebuilding, Managing Land and Boundary Disputes, and PIND’s Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) System.
The traditional rulers and other community stakeholders expressed their gratitude for the training and testified of its ongoing positive effects in their communities. In attendance in Calabar were chiefs and residents from warring communities, who later stated that thanks to the Prevent Council, they are now actively interested in seeking peace through dialogue.
Read some of the first-hand testimonies below:
Ovai Engr. Robert Etu, the clan head of Ebom community that fought with and sacked Ebijiaka community: “PIND has done so well for organizing this workshop. I am so happy to be an advocate for peace, especially with the return and reintegration of the displaced Ebijiakara people against all odds. I’m very grateful to the paramount of my LGA for initiating the Bahumono council of chiefs’ peace meetings, the Bahumono peace and development association, the youth council of Bahumono, and the Adomono council, who were involved in the peace movement. Under my watch as the Clan Head of Ebom, the Bahumono council of chiefs have asked the Ebijiakara community to return home and settle at Esoi, where they are currently farming. PIND has done much more than we thought as our eyes have opened more. We are ready for peace, and because of this project, we will expedite action and encourage our brothers to return home and start developing where the entire Bahumono have decided they should reside. I support any peace and reconciliation effort to restore peace and harmony among our people. Thank you, PIND, for this great achievement because not even the government has been able to do so. What you have taught us today will be fully implemented to the later and ensure that we achieve sustainable peace in Bahumono.”
Etinyin Otu Asuquo Mesembe VI, the paramount ruler of Odukpani LGA: “As the paramount ruler of Odukpani LGA, I have decided to take up the Akpang (Odukpani Qua town) and New Netim community and resolve their problem. I was not consulted and carried along by New Netim leadership. But after attending PIND’s training, I am ready to make sure that the issue is resolved completely. I am proud of PIND for organizing this workshop. Your consultant has done so well that we now understand and know better how to resolve and manage crises in our domain. Thank you, and keep it up.”
Ntufam Augustine Okpa of New Netim community: “I, Ntufam Augustine Okpa of New Netim community, am so happy with this project because we have been displaced for over four years from our community by our brothers from Odukpani Qua town. We are suffering and have not talked with our brothers in the last four years. But because of PIND, we have shaken hands and exchanged pleasantries. I am particularly grateful to God for making PIND organize this workshop. It has helped us, made our voices heard, and provided an opportunity for us to make amends with our brothers for the interest of our people. I will make all the necessary efforts to meet with the paramount ruler to help us return to our homes. PIND has provided and equipped us with the knowledge to do this and achieve lasting peace and harmony with our people.”
