By Victor Efeizomor

RECENTLY, Delta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa played host to the visiting Federal Government delegation, led by Vice   President Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo, who was on a one- day working visit to the state for interactive engagement and facts finding mission.

It is  not a coincident  that the delegation who are scheduled to visit other Niger Delta States to resolve some development challenges in the region choose Delta state as the first pot of call.

The visit took Osinbajo and his team to, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta, and the hot bed of youth restiveness in the region. He also visited the Olu of Warri, and other communities in the state.

The team would also visit Bayelsa, Eket in Cross River State and other parts of the region to obtain first-hand information on the pains of Niger Deltans.

The Federal Government’s  peace initiative in the Niger Delta region is coming  at a time when Governor Okowa has put in a lot of  energy and resources to foster  peace,  security and  good democratic values,  which clearly demonstrates his patriotic zeal and support to boost the on-going efforts of  President Muhammadu  Buhari’s leadership to restore peace and security  in the troubled region.

Governor Okowa’s role as a pathfinder  in the Niger Delta crisis, despite his contrasting partisan interest with the Nigeria’s ruling government of President Buhari is not only highly commendable  but demonstrates unique intent for collective pursuit of peace.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

Okowa’s  desire for peace and security in the  region and the country in general  does not end in rhetoric, rather  substantive efforts,  discussion,  consultations and engagements have  being on-going  since  assumption of office about  one and half year ago,  and this  has placed  him on a higher pedestal of  a groundbreaker with a broad spectrum of collective leadership interest,  propelled with  the desire  to  ensure  for a   better society.

This, perhaps informed his  decision to give the visiting Federal Government delegation  led by Vice President a rousing welcome, saying:  “ There  is  no better time  in the quest  for peace  than  now . So we must embrace peace, we must seek peace.. I must thank the youths who have spoken, we must all come together and move the region forward. The time is now”.

Knowing that peace and security are essential ingredients for the smooth running of government machineries and for a harmonious existence of the governed, upon  assumption of office in May 2015,  Governor Okowa quickly  inaugurated the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council to study the cause  of conflicts among the various communities  in the state and advise on measures to effectively mitigate them as well as advise on appropriate peace building mechanisms to ensure for  the sustainability of the various peace programmes of government.

While inaugurating the council , Okowa said: “ it does appear, however that  kidnapping, cultism, sea piracy  and crude oil theft  with their attendant economic  and environmental  challenges are beginning  to rear their ugly  heads. I am also concerned about the emerging trend  of inter/intra communal land disputes, conflicts  between oil companies  and their  host communities , post –amnesty agitations as well as clashes between Fulani herdsmen  and local farmers . All these constitute serious security threat that we must confront with boldness and decisive actions”.

No doubt, the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria’s oil producing areas have affected the Federal and State Government’s revenue generation leading to economic recession. Unfortunately , Delta State  statutory allocation, value added tax , 13% derivation revenue  and other capital receipts  from the federation account have dropped significantly . The variance recorded, however, has been attributed to the decline in international oil price and vandalism of oil pipelines.

In his determination at ensuring peace and less  tension in the creeks , Governor Okowa  constituted another  facts finding team, led by his deputy, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro  and instructed that they  go to the creeks  on a peace mission, basically to appeal for calm through the traditional rulers of Warri, Gbaramatu, and all the Izon traditional rulers like HRM Ayemi Botu of Seimbiri, the Agadama of Egbema kingdom and the Olu of Warri  and chart a way forward such that peace can be restored in the face of heightened hostility.

Equally, in 2016, the governor donated ten security vans to the Police as part of government’s efforts at combating and checkmating the activities of criminals in the state. The gesture was also in response to the logistic challenges of the police in the state.

To consolidate on his search for peace and security in the  creeks , Governor Okowa  convoked   a one day stakeholders summit  on vandalisation  of oil  and gas facilitates , which held at Effurun , Warri. While addressing the audience he said: “our first responsibility as a government is to establish and maintain law and order and boost investors’ confidence.”

He pointed out that “ Despite the huge sums that have been spent over the years to secure  and maintain our oil and gas pipelines, pipeline vandalisation  and crude oil theft have persist . While the security agencies are doing their best possible to contain the situation, it is apparent that solution goes beyond mere military presence and brute force. There is need for a fresh, proactive, collaboration and people –centred approach to this problem”.

Without doubt, governments at all levels and militants must see Governor Okowa’s peace and security diplomacy as the best option to salvage the Niger Delta region and the nation’s economy.