By Austin Ogwuda
Beyond the pomp and pageantry, oratory accompanying the inauguration of a 44- member Advisory and Peace Building Council, it is important to note here that their task is not only daunting but requires absolute wisdom and tact.
These Wise Men (including women among them) must have been carefully picked from the three Senatorial Districts of Delta State.
Going by their individual pedigree, none of them, I repeat, is wanting or has not, in one way or the other carved a niche for himself or herself in a chosen career or field of endeavour.
But it is beyond that. Assemblage of egg heads, locked up in one room to brainstorm, sometimes, turn out to be counter productive if either not properly piloted by the leadership of the group, or due to ego as some will naturally exhibit their nuances, thus rocking the motive of gathering them together or because of the bargage they carry.
Therefore, it is very important to advise the Council first before they start to come up with their advice to the State to note that wisdom and tact are the twin tools to use to achieve the expected objective.
Let us peep into their assigned roles or call it Terms of Reference and Responsibilities for the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council are as follows:
*Study the general socio-economic and political situations in the State and render advice to Government;
*Advise on issues that can lead to healthy relationship between the Executive arm of Government, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, as well as the Local Government Councils;
*Reach out to and collaborate with traditional institutions, youth groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, socio-cultural organisations, and other relevant stakeholders through regular discourses on peace and security with a view to containing and tackling the sources that breed and encourage insecurity in our communities;
*Carry out in-depth studies and render advice on issues for the purpose of eliciting goodwill, instilling confidence, and fostering harmonious relationship with the Federal Government and other States in the Federation;
*Study the causes of conflicts among the various communities in the State and advise on measures to tackle them;
*Detect early warning signs and nip them in the bud to forestall escalation of conflicts;
*Advise on appropriate peace building platforms to ensure the successful implementation of the policies and programmes of Government; and *Deliberate and advise on any matter referred to it by the Governor.
Quite a tall a tall order, isn’t it.For the purpose of this write up I singled out task No 3 found in the Terms of Reference, that is:”Reach out to and collaborate with traditional institutions, youth groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, socio-cultural organisations, and other relevant stakeholders through regular discourses on peace and security with a view to containing and tackling the sources that breed and encourage insecurity in our communities”.
How to navigate this numberThree task is my concern because if peace can be achieved in any community the traditional institution there and the citizenry especially the up mobile, exposed and radical set of youths of nowadays must be on the same page.
In those days the elders take decisions and pass instructions to the youths to follow religiously But that narrative is fast eroding unfortunately as youths are the ones dictating the tone for the elders to follow instead of the other way round.
Not in all communities, though. But this ugly scenerio exists in some. Although there is no justification for any youth disrespecting constituted authority like the traditional institution headed by grey haired old men older than their fathers to misbehave or insult elders brazenly in town hall meetings, some of these elders too, lost their respect due to abominable entanglements with some of the overzealous, unruly youths who engage in get rich quick syndrome without the elders questioning their illegal means like land grabbing and oil bunkering.
When some of the elders look away and even benefit from the booties, how then can they (elders) boldly challenge or speak out when these youths run riot.
I mean a set of bad eggs among the youths because actually not all the youths get involved in disrespectful act and dirty games in their communities.
Without trying to discredit any of these 44 men and women of calibre and intergrity, the basic truth must be pointed out.
You cannot certainly say that all of these 44 Wise Men are innocent. Some might have forgotten the way to the palace of his or her traditional ruler because he or she belongs to another camp and not the camp of the traditional ruler.
Therefore, efforts should first of all be made by some of these Advisory Council members with “coma” to go home, swallow pride, be a statesman and build bridges if he or she can be useful in that assignment as you cannot belong to a different camp with your traditional ruler or the youth leader of that community and expect peace.
Discourage the tactics of divide and rule, different camps, is not healthy.
Finally, another thing is to provide logistics for the Council to come out useful recommendations and another is for the initiator, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to exercise the will power to implement the recommendations without allowing them to gather dust thus reducing the job to mere academic exercise.
Mr. Governor, please promise Deltans you will work with their Report.The Town Hall Media wishes them good luck!