BY EVELYN ZORZOR
To help foster inclusive approaches to addressing drivers of violence and criminality in Delta State, as well as achieve needed peace, Search For Common Ground, on Thursday, inaugurated the State Peace Architecture (SPA).
The inauguration which held at the state Secretariat in Asaba, the state capital, is in line with an 18 month action plan geared towards fostering peace in the Niger Delta region with focus on Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The project is the brain child of Search, a Non-governmental Organization in consortium with Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN), Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Academic Associates Peace Works (AAPW).
Recall that the project was launched in Delta at the state Government House in February, where the state government pledged support and working partnership.
Representing the government at inauguration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Ngozi Mogbolu, opined that establishing a peace architecture at a time like this could not have been better done.
“I really want to commend the organizers for putting the programme together because the essence of a peace architecture like this cannot be overemphasized.
“I believe so much in the potential of this project and I enjoin all stakeholders to do the needful to ensure that the project is successful because the price for peace can never be too high”, she noted.
According to the Consortium Manager for Search, Joshua Chorbe, “The SPA is a state level platform created to increase communication and information sharing on emerging conflict issues at the state level.
“The dialogue provides opportunities for discussions around the development of concrete action points and steps to ensure that resolutions are addressed and implemented by the appropriate actors”, he noted.
Part of the things the structured dialogue is expected to deliver is to be able to advocate on policy options that improve community peace and security.
In attendance were key stakeholders in security agencies including the state commissioner for police, CP, Olufemi Abaniwonda represented by the CSP Operations, CSP Chuks Ukaduie.
Also present were representatives of government agencies including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), members of Civil Society Organizations as well as members of the Community and Local Government Peace Architecture.
The highpoint of the inaugural ceremony was the election and swearing in of the Governing body of the SPA platform, which saw the emergence of Dr Mogbolu as Chairman.
