Edo INC President Harps On Peace, Bags Honour

The Pere of Olodiama Clan in Edo State, Pere Godwin Oguoyibo, the Alagbabunafa lll, has specially recognized Chief Bibowei Braie, the President of Ijaw National Congress in Edo State, for hard work and philantroplist gestures.
The Pere of Olodiama clan in Edo state said the honour was to support Chief Braie’s moves to broker peace in the state.
Chief Braie who is presently the President of the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Edo State Council, told journalists in Benin that he had always stood for the overall peace for the Ijaw People.
“My intention is to achieve a goal, and be a peacemaker in my community. I remember when the deal of amnesty programme strated. I had an interaction with the DSS and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, when he was the governor of Edo state.
“We broker peace among our boys in the creeks, and the governments, and all the agencies as it were without asking for money. I took a tour with my team to the creeks to Edo state in my own expenses. No money was taken from the government to say we want to embark on this mission.
” I remember vividly when I was in the camp with some of the boys, when they asked where was the money given to you by the government. I told them I don’t need money from government to make peace. At times, I spent over N150,000 from my own personal fund.
“I can see value for the money now, because I did it from my heart. The reality is that there is peace in Edo state now, and there is joy in the heart of the people. So that has been my main trust in the operation, especially of the fact that I am in a mixbreed because I married to Edo woman.
“So why must I fight with a Benin people? I also belonged to the school of thought that whenever disagreement occurs, it is the people first, not you the leader. This has become a guiding principle in my heart over the years.
” I think I enjoy the recognition offered to me, and my people have enjoyed for having me as their leader. I remember when the former commissioner of police, CP Folusho Adebajo was in Edo state. I partnered with him very well to bring peace to the state. The commissioner had no option than to say you have a firm control of your people.
” Most time, what we have is that we apply the principle for an eye for an eye. But, this is not supposed to be. It offers the basis of applying all target resolution to broker peace in the community and the state,” he added.
Speaking on how to bring peace in the warring communities like Ofunama, Egbema and others, he asserted, “I can tell you that the names you mentioned are all communities I had interaction with before. During the amnesty period, I was the one who authenticated all of them to amnesty programme.
” At Ufunama in the Federal Government College, the major problem they have is ego and pride. Peace can return to such communities if they put their ego aside. That is my prayer for them. There must be some level of give and take. I am aware of some of these challenges.
“Some of them are political. But to be real, it’s mostly an ego problem. When politics started early I know that there was a problem between Egbema 1 and Robert Okunbo. I brokered that peace in the office of the Ijaw National Congress. I told them, ‘you are brothers what are you fighting for,'” he stressed.