Rivers Cult Groups Sign Peace Treaty

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=83679



Seven cult groups in Rivers State whose leaders incidentally come from Okrika area yesterday signed a peace treaty before taking traditional oath to keep the peace and not fight each otheragain. The move is expected to contribute to the efforts of the federal government to stem the tide of violence and kidnapping in the Niger Delta area.
The cult leaders assured that since Okrika was the genesis of militarism in the Niger Delta’s agitation for redress of its long years of the neglect by federal government any peace move which starts from them will also affect other parts of the Niger Delta. “If we remove the virus from its origin, other places will be healed”, the groups said.
Tagged “Wakirike Peace Declaration 2007” and facilitated by “the Kirike Be-Se Peace and Development Project”, the peace accord saw for the first time the coming together of all the warring factions in the Okrika crisis. The groups also agreed that the treaty will be binding on all of them.
The groups, whose leaders were present, held hands drank from the same cup and traditionally ate fish and tapioca from the same buckets after assuring the community that the days of aggression was over.
The group which entered into the agreement are the Niger Delta Vigilante /Icelanders commanded by Mr. Tom Ateke, Niger Delta Solidarity Front led by Mr. Abiye Abaku, and Outlaws led by Sampson Adoki. Others are ‘Klansmen’ led by Peretoru Iyaye, Green Landers led by Theophilus Fubara, led by Mr. Glory Iyango and the Bush Boys/Peace Makers led by Mr. Sunny Opuambe.
Of all the cult leaders, only Opuambe who was said to have gone to Calabar to attend the Niger Delta Youth Forum that was absent. His absence nearly delayed the occasion when he allegedly called to ask the others to wait for him as he was on his way to the occasion.
The occasion which started at the market square, Awolembiri, Koni-Ama saw a carniva-like occasion where the leaders of the cult groups came out in the open to renounce violence. The hot exchanges between the groups had turned Okrika into a ghost town where only women live in the open.
Speaking at the occasion, the facilitator of the peace accord, Mrs. Clara Ngeretise said she had the assurance from God after praying with her group for a long time. She added that since the time has come for God to stop the carnage, the treaty would last and be binding on all of them.
“We did not like the way our youths were dying so we decided to intercede. We prayed and God assured us that he was going to return peace to the land and it is God’s direction that saw us to this level so I know that it will endure”, she said.
Addressing the crowd at the square, Chairman of the “Wakirike United Peace Guide” which is the common umbrella under which the cult groups have collapsed, Mr. Theophilus Fubara begged the people of Okirika for forgiveness saying that they were sorry for the pains and losses the past rivalry between the groups inflicted on them.
“For eight years and nine months, government employed divide and rule on us and we were killing ourselves but today we have come for peace and that peace will be an everlasting peace. We are doing this by ourselves though people and the government have been asking us to settle”, he said.
Kneeling down, he begged the people to forgive members of the cult groups for their past deeds. “The different groups here have done bad things so we ask everybody to please forgive us. We will never go back to bad things”, he said.
Waxing philosophical, Fubara said that an idle mind was the devil’s workshop and pleaded that the youths should be meaningfully engaged so that they will leave evil deeds. “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his souls?”, he asked.
Also speaking at the occasion, Caretaker Committee Chairman, Okrika Local Government Area, Mr. Christopher Chuama described the reconciliation between the groups as a “Miracle” and expressed gratitude to God that it happened within his tenure.
He confessed that the Council did not spend a dime in organizing or assisting the groups to come together.
“We all played roles in the crisis and should cleanse ourselves from our sins, enough is enough for dividing the community, enough is enough for carrying arms, enough is enough for brothers fighting brothers. Let us come together as one and live in peace. As the people have forgiven you, so has God forgiven you and even those who are not here.

Don't drink before coming to NL.

U posted ur thread under d wrong category

Cult?? all a dem blood clot??