World Peace Day: Achieving Peace Requires More Than Laying Down Arms — Agediga

Revered and renowned Nigerian philanthropist, Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga, Chairman of the Shedrack Agediga Foundation (SAF) who is also the Executive Director (ED), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has stated that peace requires more than just laying down of arms. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report.

The respected Niger Delta leader and peace expert made the remark yesterday at the Canewood event centre in Warri, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State while the Shedrack Agediga Foundation was commemorating the 2022 International Day of Peace. 

In the well organised and heavily attended event, Agediga had stated that although the global theme for the 2022 International Day of Peace was tagged “End Racism, Build Peace “, he noted that the Shedrack Agediga Foundation has to rephrase the theme “End Ethnic Intolerance, Build Peace “. This according to him was to suit local needs, stressing that as Niger Deltans and Deltans, one needs not to be told about the peculiarity of the theme. 

The welcome address reads below:

AN ADDRESS BY HON. AMB. COMRADE SHEDRACK AGEDIGA, ED PRS DESOPADEC, CHAIRMAN SHEDRACK AGEDIGA FOUNDATION, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE CELEBRATION ORGANIZED BY THE SHEDRACK AGEDIGA FOUNDATION ON THIS DAY 21ST SEPTEMBER  2022: THEME” END RACISM, BUILD PEACE {REPHRASED END ETHNIC  INTOLERANCE, BUILD PEACE}.

Your Excellency, the executive governor of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of  the people’s Democratic party ( PDP), senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, your excellency the deputy governor of Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, the member representing Burutu federal constituency, RT. Hon . Julius Gbabojor Pondi, the executive chairman Uvwie Local government council, the MD/CEO, DESOPADEC, Honourable members of the state executive council, our highly revered Royal fathers, representatives of the various ethnic nationalities here present, our erudite guest speaker, Prof Atare Andy Otite, members of the press, SAF family, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. 

Let me start with a thank you note to express my deepest appreciation to everyone for availing us your esteem presence despite your huge daily personal and official engagements.

The International day of peace is a day set aside by the United Nations to be observed across the globe on the 21st of September every year. It is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace  through education and public awareness. The theme of this year’s event is End Racism, Build Peace. 

The Shedrack Agediga Foundation has consistently since 2016 joined the global community to celebrate every year  through conferences, seminars and peace walks to educate and create public awareness on the need for a peaceful society with shared values.

This year, the Foundation has thoughtfully marshalled out a sub theme relevant to local needs titled; End Ethnic  Intolerance, Build Peace. Achieving peace involves more than laying down of arms, It requires building of societies where everyone feels a part of and have a level playing ground to flourish.  It requires a society in which people are treated equally and are without fear of possible violence against them regardless of their ethnicity. Ethnic intolerance destabilizes societies and harmpers growth and development; this we have seen first hand as Nigerians and particularly as Deltans. 

As violence and conflict across the globe erupts, within our local context, we have seen ethnic intolerance as a catalyst to conflict and violence. To mitigate violent conflicts amongst and between ethnic groups in delta state and Nigeria, We all have a role to play and tackling ethnic intolerance is a crucial way to contribute to world peace. 

To do justice to this theme is our guest speaker and erudite scholar; prof. Atare Andy Otite. A  professor of Development and gender studies from the Delta state University, Abraka.

I enjoin everyone to sit tight and pay rapt attention, as we collectively open our minds to the pathways to end ethnic intolerance and build peace.

Once again, you are welcome.

Shedrack Agediga.

However, in his goodwill message, Member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi had lauded Shedrack Agediga Foundation for consistently preaching peace across the Country over the years. 

According to him, there is also racism in the political arena, a situation in which he made reference to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) where the House of Representatives voted for host communities to benefit 5% and the Senate voted for 3%. 

He continued that despite the different  positions  by the House of Representatives and Senate, they have to harmonise hence the law has come to stay to be respected by everyone. 

“Shedrack Agediga is one of the soundest, good and coolest man that I know. I am very proud of him “. Pondi Stated. 

Earlier, guest speaker for the event, Prof. Atare Andy Otite, a professor of Development and gender studies from the Delta state University, Abraka had also delivered a captivating and mind blowing lecture on Ending Ethnic Intolerance, Build Peace. 

Speaker after speaker had particularly described Shedrack Agediga as a good man that needs to be emulated by all those who think well of a better society. 

The event was massively attended by important organisation and their leaders across Delta State. 

Photo Credit The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide