Peace, Necessary Elixir For Community Dev, Says Banigo

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has described peace as a necessary elixir for community development.
She stated this during a reconciliatory meeting between Egwede Community and Ayama-Agana Community in Andoni Local Government Area at the Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
Banigo, who is the chairman of the Rivers State Boundary, disclosed that Governor Nyesom Wike’s commitment to promote peace and development in all parts of the state was not negotiable.
She said that it was important that communities maintain the peace at all times, adding that there would be no development in an atmosphere of suspicion, bitterness and rancour.
“Your being here is not accidental, you have to carefully understand why God has destined, that you should be here today and fulfil that purpose for which He has brought you out”, Banigo said.
According to the deputy governor, “The committee looked at two major instruments the court judgement and the agreement signed by both parties on February 7, 1997; the demarcation team was to carry out the assignment based on these instruments but it appears that this could not be done.That is why the council chairman brought it to the boundary commission”.
She appreciated what the Andoni Conflict Resolution Committee set up by the chairman of Andoni Local Government Council had done with the representatives of both communities.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Erasmus Awortu, said the issues and disputes that relate to land were very tortuous areas that lead to insecurity everywhere, and noted that they were not taking the disputes between Egwede Community and Ayama-Agana Community very lightly because it had lingered and threatened to spill over.
He said, “The deputy governor has been very proactive in pursuing this matter, dedicating her time to see that this matter is resolved.If the deputy governor at her level is putting so much effort and she is not from Andoni, how much more for me, the chairman, whose primary duty is maintaining peace and order within thearea? We have made some progress, and we are very happy for today’s meeting”.
Also speaking, the Surveyor General of the state, Noel Elenwo, said it was the responsibility of government to protect lives and the property of its citizenry, stressing that when issues of boundary disputes arise, it was only a responsible government that intervenes at the appropriate time, to nip skirmishes in the bud, which the commission, under the watch of the deputy governor had done.