By Awhawha Awhawha
The Delta State Government has attributed the long-standing peace enjoyed within the State to the institutionalization of peace building systems put in place by the State Government.
The Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu made this known on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Search For Common Grounds, an NGO championing the community centred approach to transforming criminality and violence in the Niger Delta in his office in Asaba.
The SSG noted that with the presence of crude oil in some communities, alongside with the orientation of the people, there has been increased boundary tension, community development association crisis and other disagreements among communities, but that with the peace building platforms set up by the State government, these tensions have been lessened and is responsible for the high peace rating in the State.
He added that most communal crisis were not because the people were aggressive or solely dependent on oil, but because their basic means of livelihood being their farmlands had been polluted with the people being left with no other option for their livelihood but to depend on the oil for their survival.
He called for a collaboration between the Organization and the State government so that the peace initiatives of the State government could be harmonized with their own to give it a broader perspective.
Earlier, the Leader of the delegation, Dr Philip Kalio commended the State Government for the peace and security currently being enjoyed in the State which he said aligns with the objectives of the programme.
He stated that without peace in any society there would be no meaniful development, and added that the stability seen in Delta State has been much more than what they have seen in other States.