A high-powered delegation of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a Civil Society and non-governmental organization, on Tuesday, September 21st was at the Palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III to celebrate him for his contribution towards concretizing peace by sensitizing the masses on the need for peaceful coexistence.
The Country Director and CEO of CEPEJ, Comrade Chief Mulade Sheriff, a governorship aspirant for Delta State 2023 general elections, stressed the need to continuously build and support peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, most especialy with neighbors in Warri Area of Delta State, in line with the 2021 theme of the World Peace Day: Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.
CEPEJ took the initiative to key into the International Day of Peace as observed around the world on 21st September, pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly’s Declaration in 1981 to strengthen the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours, non-violence and cease-fire.
Sheriff Mulade, the first Ijaw leader to take peace advocacy to the Olu of Warri, used the occasion to celebrate the Monarch on his coronation, and inducted him as CEPEJ’s Royal Peace Ambassador and Patron.
During the visit, CEPEJ advocated for a society characterized by equity, justice, fair play and inclusiveness. Comrade Mulade who advocate that peace begins with the inner mind to the heart and to the people, he therefore, used the occasion to request the Royal Father to nominate one of his Palace Chiefs to be a member of the Local Organizing Committee for the upcoming Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament.
Earlier, the Chairman Board of Trustees of CEPEJ, Dr. Chief GodwIn Orhadahwe gave a brief overview of the activities of the NGO, and praised Ogiame Atuwatse III for revoking an age long curse placed on Nigeria by one of his ancestors.
Responding, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III thanked the CEPEJ team for the visit, and commended Comrade Mulade for taking his peace crusade to all corners of Nigeria and Africa. The Warri Monarch stressed the need for sustainable peace and development based on the truth and resolution of underlining wrongs and injustices in the land. He enjoined the NGO to intensify its peace crusade in Nigeria and Africa.
Highlights of the visit were the presentation of gifts and suvenirs by the Country Director and CEO of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade to the Olu, as well as a group photograph with the Ogiame, with CEPEJ’s Country Director holding a placard reading: A Message of Peace from the Creeks of the Niger Delta to the World.
Also on the CEPEJ’s team were the NGO’s Corporate Manager Adminstration and Accounts Mrs Tina Agidi; the Senior Programmes Manager, Mr. Sam Ideh; the Communication and Programmes Manager, Mr. Dan Tonfawei; as well as the ICT Manager, Mr. Olatoke Olasupo.
