In a fragile democracy such as ours, peace is not just a luxury; it is a necessity. Without peace, there can be no meaningful development, no stability for businesses to thrive, and no assurance of a better future for our children.
Warri, with its deep history as an economic hub and melting pot of cultures, knows too well the bitter taste of crisis. That is why the recent attempt by some political actors and mischief-makers to twist Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s remarks on the Warri situation is both reckless and dangerous.
The governor, speaking in Warri, did not declare allegiance to one side or inflame divisions as his critics suggest. He did the opposite. His words were a cautionary plea, an urgent call to all stakeholders to preserve peace.
Governor Oborevwori reminded his audience of his own history with crisis, his desire to govern as a man of “street credibility and local content,” and his determination to be a governor for all Deltans. Above all, he made it clear: Warri must not be consumed by another cycle of violence.
Excerpts of the Governor’s remarks: ‘’I have witnessed crisis, and I make sure to be on good terms with everybody. Do we still want a crisis in Warri? No! People are using social media to cause crisis. I want to develop this Warri. ‘’They called me in Abuja and asked what I had to say on this matter. What I have to say is that we need peace here. I do not want problems. Please, our leaders, this Warri dey sweet me for body.
‘’Sometimes you have hope that your children will come and take you abroad, but I do not have any other home; this is the only home I have. When I was contesting, I told the people that I am a man with street credibility and local content. I am a governor for all Deltans. I will not take sides. Pray for peace in Warri, we want peace in Warri. I want to do more for Deltans, and I do not want to fail,’’ Governor Oborevwori.
Yet, instead of amplifying this message of peace, detractors cherry-picked his words, ripped them from context, and weaponised them for political mileage. This is nothing but deliberate mischief, a dangerous gamble with the peace of a city that has bled too much in the past.
The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Projects and Policies, Mr Olise Ifejika, was right to push back. On a programme on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, he pointed out what should be obvious to anyone acting in good faith: the governor’s words were neither divisive nor partisan. They were the words of a leader who knows that without peace, his dream of transforming Warri into a model of development will collapse before it even begins.
’What the Governor said is ‘I am a Warri man like you, I enjoy the peace in Warri, and I am going to develop Warri. Let the peace endure. If people are beginning to distort it, giving it other meanings, it is unfortunate. We should not allow everything that comes from the government to be politicised. The Governor has sued for peace. He has pleaded that while he is in the saddle until 2031 by the grace of God, let there be peace. Therefore, it is expected that we should all imbibe the peace culture. This was exactly what the governor is talking about, no more and no less’’ Ifejika said.
Ifejika, a former Chief Press Secretary to former governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, continued, ‘’the refrain should be: Let the peace in the state endure from generation to generation’’ even as he cautioned the youths not to lend themselves as ready instruments for chaos.
We must therefore ask: what kind of politics seeks to inflame a city for short-term gain? What sort of leaders would rather plunge their people into chaos than work towards solutions? The youths of Warri, in particular, must take caution. Too often, young men and women are used as instruments of destruction, lured with promises that vanish as soon as the smoke clears. To lend themselves again to such manipulation would be a tragic mistake.
Those who seek to foment trouble must be reminded: peace is not negotiable. No election, no political ambition, and no rivalry is worth the destruction of lives and livelihoods. Governor Oborevwori has sued for peace — not only for the period of his administration, but for generations to come. That call must be embraced, not sabotaged.
The responsibility is therefore ours — leaders, citizens, civil society, the media — to resist the toxic urge to politicise every statement and every action of government. Criticism is healthy, but mischief is poison. If Warri is to thrive again as the heartbeat of Delta State’s economy, the city must be given the chance to heal, grow, and prosper in peace.
This is not the time for reckless interpretations and political scheming. It is the time for sober reflection and collective commitment. As Ifejika aptly put it, the refrain must be: let the peace endure, from generation to generation. Anything less would be betrayal — not just of Governor Oborevwori’s vision, but of Warri’s future.
