A peace and development advocate in the Niger Delta region, Mulade Sheriff, has called on the various ethnic nationalities in Delta State to “embrace development for the benefit of the entire residents of the state.”
Mulade, who is the Ibe Serimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom and the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday, tasked “the Urhobos, the Itsekiris, and the Ijaws, who are the livewire of the state economy, to endeavour to live up to expectations by leading by examples.”
While assuring all that both President Bola Tinubu and the Delta State Government are committed to attracting investors to the state, Mulade emphasised “the imperative of unity and peace among the various ethnic groups in the state to make the set goals achievable”.
“The big three ethnic groups in Delta State need to unite and play strategic roles that will aid the federal and state government to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
“We cannot continue to fight ourselves, oppose development, and chase away investors that will create employment opportunities for our teeming youths because of selfish interest,” he said.
The statement partly read, “I want to strongly appeal and advise our revered traditional rulers and political leaders to shun hatred and embrace peace, unity, and development for the interest and progress of our dire state.
“It is pertinent to state that the current Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Delta State Government led by Sheriff Oborevwori are doing everything humanly possible to attract investors to the state through the ongoing state projects and federal presence.
“Delta State is blessed with abundance of human capital and natural endowments. Rather than fighting ourselves, let us harness the potentials of influence across the state to support the Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Deltans to enjoy the dividends of democracy as the economic live wire of Nigeria”.
