Comrade Mulade Leads CEPEJ Delegation on Congratulatory Visit to Idjerhe Monarch in Jesse Town...

...Calls him Royal Father with Difference

The National Coordinator, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade on Friday November 20, 2020, led a high-powered delegation of CEPEJ on a

visit to the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM Monday Whiskey Obokowho, Udurhie I, at his palace in Jesse Town, Ethiope West LGA, Delta State.

The visit was for CEPEJ to formally congratulate him as the new Ovie of the kingdom and also to seek the collaboration of the Monarch in realizing the vision and mission of the NGO.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Mulade, the Ibe-soremowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State, said the coronation of, and the presentation of staff of office to HRM Monday Whiskey Obukohwo as Udurhie the 1st were well deserved and ordained by God Almighty.

The CEPEJ Boss extolled the starling qualities of the journalist-turned Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, describing him as a King with a difference, considering his vast knowledge of journalism, tourism, education and exposure to modern civilization. He scored the widely traveled and educated Royal Father for his advocacy for unity, peace and development in the Niger Delta Region.

For his part, the Chairman, CEPEJ Board of Trustees, Dr. Chief Godwin Orhadahwe spoke on the vision and mission of CEPEJ, its activities, development strategies including peace advocacy, training workshops, conferences and other programmes designed to positively impact the lives of the people.

Dr. Orhadahwe also highlighted the development strides of CEPEJ as a Pan African NGO with a strong desire to institutionalize peace and justice, especially for the benefit of the deprived people, resolve conflicts and restore the degraded environment.

He added that CEPEJ was ready to collaborate with Idjerhe traditional institution for the development of youths and women, as well as provide support in resolving conflicts and environmental challenges, and organize capacity building training sessions for the people in order to foster peace and unity in idghere kingdom.

Responding, HRM, Monday Whiskey Obokowho, Udurhie I, the Ovie of Idghere Kingdom, thanked the CEPEJ delegation for finding time to visit him in his palace to congratulate him. He said CEPEJ was the first NGO to visit his palace, and assured of his readiness to collaborate with CEPEJ in its peace advocacy and development activities.

On the issue of environmental degradation and remediation, the Idjerhe Monarch identified environmental degradation as a major challenge of the Niger Delta Region, which requires firm, bold and undeterred NGOs or pressure groups to speak out and forestall further degradation of the environment, and commended CEPEJ for championing such campaigns.

Citing the dastardly Jesse fire disaster caused by ruptured pipelines about 22 years ago at Jesse Town, killing and roasting over 1,000 people, he said the incident left an indelible mark of environmental degradation which should be revisited by the State and Federal Governments. He added that collaborating with CEPEJ through its impactful and laudable programmes, would user in massive development in his kingdom.

He then prayed for CEPEJ and assured that Idjerhe kingdom would collaborate with the NGO towards cementing the relationship, and promised to support and be part of all CEPEJ's programmes and activities when invited.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of CEPEJ's Newsletters, Journals and a portrait of Ovie to him by Comrade Sheriff Mulade, supported by Dr. Godwin Orhadahwe.

Top Management Staff from CEPEJ Head Office in Warri, Mrs. Tina Agidi, Mr. Sam Ideh, Mr. Daniel Tonfawei, Mr. Mauruf Odekunle and Mr. Olasupo Olatoke accompanied the CEO and Board Chairman on the visit.