By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The Association of Justices of the Peace (AJP), Delta State Chapter, has called on Nigerians, particularly political actors and their supporters, to reject violence, hate speech, political thuggery and other acts capable of undermining peace and security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The association also urged governments, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, community stakeholders and citizens to strengthen early-warning and conflict-prevention mechanisms to avert emerging security threats before they escalate into violence.
The call was made on Monday in Asaba, Delta State, at a conference organised by the Association of Justices of the Peace to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Peace, with the theme, “Emergency on Peace and Security.”
Speaking at the event, the President of the Association, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, JP, said the choice of the theme was a deliberate wake-up call to stakeholders over the urgent need to protect peace and security in the country.
He said the International Day of Peace should not merely be observed as a ceremonial occasion, but should serve as an opportunity for citizens and institutions to recommit themselves to justice, tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
According to him, peace is more than the absence of war or violence, stressing that it requires justice, security, tolerance, understanding, respect for human dignity and harmonious coexistence.
“Peace is the bedrock of development,” Okumagba declared, adding that no society could achieve sustainable development where insecurity, kidnapping, communal conflicts and youth restiveness had become pervasive.
He said peace enables businesses to grow, investors to have confidence, children to attend school safely and governments to concentrate on development.
The AJP president emphasised that security could not be left exclusively to government and security agencies, arguing that citizens must become active partners in protecting their communities.
“The police cannot be everywhere. The military cannot be everywhere. The DSS cannot be everywhere. Government cannot be present in every home and community at every moment. Therefore, citizens must become partners in the protection of their communities,” he said.
Okumagba urged citizens to report suspicious activities, threats, criminal activities, communal tensions and other early warning signs to appropriate authorities.
He said Nigeria must move away from the culture of responding to crises only after violence had occurred and embrace proactive conflict prevention.
“Early reporting can prevent violence. Early intervention can save lives,” he said.
The association also expressed concern over the vulnerability of young people to criminality and political violence, calling for greater investment in education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and other opportunities.
Okumagba said the youth should not be treated as the problem of society but as important partners in finding solutions to its challenges.
He warned political leaders against recruiting or manipulating young people for violent political activities.
“Do not arm our youths for political battles today and expect them to build peaceful communities tomorrow,” he said.
He urged government, private organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and civil society groups to intensify youth empowerment initiatives and create opportunities that would enable young Nigerians to contribute positively to society.
The association also condemned kidnapping and other forms of criminality, noting that insecurity not only affects victims but also creates fear, discourages investment, disrupts economic activities and weakens public confidence.
On the 2027 general elections, the association urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, ethnic provocation, intimidation and violence.
Okumagba said political competition was a normal feature of democracy, but violence should have no place in the electoral process.
“Political competition is normal in a democracy. Violence is not,” he said.
He added: “No political ambition is worth the blood of a Nigerian. No elective office is worth destroying a community. No election is worth sacrificing the peace of Delta State.”
The association urged political actors to campaign on ideas, programmes and competence rather than hatred and intimidation.
It also reminded political leaders and their supporters that political contests would eventually end, while citizens would continue to live together in the same communities.
“After every election, we will still remain neighbours. We will still share the same roads, markets, schools, churches, communities and institutions,” Okumagba said.
He therefore called on stakeholders to ensure that political competition did not destroy the social relationships that bind communities together.
The association called on traditional rulers to use their positions as custodians of community peace to promote dialogue, reconciliation and mediation whenever disputes arise.
Okumagba said traditional palaces should remain places where disputing parties could seek peaceful resolution of their differences.
Religious leaders were similarly urged to use their pulpits and platforms to promote tolerance, forgiveness, responsible citizenship and peaceful coexistence.
The AJP president said places of worship should be centres of peace rather than platforms for hatred and division.
Justice essential to peace — says Delta Attorney-General
The Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, commended the Association of Justices of the Peace for organising the conference.
Ohwovoriole said the Delta State Government, under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, recognised peace and security as critical components of development and had continued to emphasise collaboration with security agencies, community engagement, dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.
He said access to justice was essential to sustainable peace, noting that the Ministry of Justice would continue to support peaceful dispute resolution.
According to him, Justices of the Peace have an important role to play in promoting dialogue and preventing conflicts at the grassroots.
“Peace is essential to development as it creates the conditions for communities to grow, for businesses to operate, and for government programmes to succeed,” he said.
The Attorney-General urged traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and resolve disputes through dialogue and lawful means.
‘Without peace, justice cannot prevail’ — Chief Judge
The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy O. Diai, described the conference as timely, particularly against the backdrop of contemporary security challenges and communal conflicts.
Represented at the event, the Chief Judge said peace, security, peaceful coexistence, conflict prevention and sustainable development were the foundations of a stable and thriving society.
She said the responsibility for peace could not be left to government alone, stressing that every member of society had a role to play.
The Chief Judge noted that Justices of the Peace were particularly important because they served as grassroots points of contact for justice and peace.
She commended their roles in mediation, community engagement and conflict prevention, noting that such efforts complemented the work of the Judiciary in maintaining law and order.
“Without peace, justice cannot prevail and without justice, peace cannot be sustained,” she said.
Justice Diai expressed confidence that the conference would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop practical strategies for strengthening peace and development in Delta State and Nigeria.
Police seek stronger grassroots partnership
The Delta State Police Command also called for stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the Association of Justices of the Peace.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CSP George Edore said the theme of the conference aligned with the statutory responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said effective law enforcement depended on mutual trust, grassroots collaboration and commitment to justice.
Edore commended the association for its work in community mediation, alternative dispute resolution and peace-building across the state.
He said Justices of the Peace could serve as a vital bridge between communities, traditional institutions and law enforcement agencies.
According to him, stronger collaboration with the association would help security agencies identify emerging disputes, resolve disagreements amicably and prevent conflicts from escalating into crises.
The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, upholding the rule of law and strengthening partnerships with community-based organisations.
It also urged stakeholders to support intelligence-led policing and provide useful information to security agencies through appropriate channels.
The President Emeritus of the Association of Justices of the Peace, Delta State, High Chief (Dr.) G.O.T. Ogagarojor, JP, Honoris Causa, described peace as sacrosanct and essential to the survival and development of every society.
Ogagarojor urged members of the association to intervene whenever they noticed early signs of conflict in their communities.
“Without peace, there will be no meaningful development and no nation can survive in an atmosphere of rancour,” he said.
He called on Justices of the Peace to work collectively towards preventing conflicts before they reached uncontrollable levels.
Another speaker, Prince Alex Igbinoba, JP, said peace required justice, fairness, tolerance, mutual respect and a willingness to resolve differences through dialogue.
He urged leaders and citizens to replace bitterness with dialogue, suspicion with understanding and confrontation with constructive engagement.
“Where there is misunderstanding, let there be dialogue. Where there is conflict, let there be mediation. Where there is injustice, let there be lawful redress. And where there is division, let us build bridges rather than walls,” Igbinoba said.
He also called on young people to become ambassadors of peace and urged leaders to recognise that peace and development were inseparable.
The Chairman of the 2026 World Peace Day Celebration, Chief Israel Ogidigben, JP, said the gathering was designed to reaffirm the collective responsibility of stakeholders to promote and preserve peace.
He said the association would continue to work with government, traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence.
The Association of Justices of the Peace, in its statement marking the International Day of Peace, also commended the Delta State Government and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and Department of State Services, for their efforts in maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property.
It expressed appreciation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for what it described as his administration’s attention to peace, security and development in the state.
The association, however, stressed that the responsibility for preserving peace extended beyond government and security agencies.
It called on Deltans to reject violence, embrace dialogue, report early warning signs of conflict and work collectively towards creating communities where peace and security could provide the foundation for sustainable development.
The association’s message was encapsulated in its appeal to citizens: “Let us disagree without hatred. Let us compete without violence. Let us resolve conflicts through dialogue.”