“Those Calling for War in Warri Won’t Send Their Own Sons to the Battlefield — Jude Gbaboyor Fires Back”

By Passman Akpos

WARRI, DELTA STATE — A prominent peace advocate, Engr. Jude Gbaboyor, has called on the youths of Warri Federal Constituency to resist any attempt by political, ethnic, or vested interests to drag them into violence amid growing concerns surrounding the ward delineation controversy in the area.

In a strongly worded appeal, Gbaboyor warned that those encouraging young people to take up arms against their neighbors would never send their own children to participate in such conflicts.

According to him, while influential individuals and political actors may promote hostility and confrontation from a distance, their own children are often safely enrolled in prestigious institutions at home and abroad, building careers and preparing for successful futures.

“The youths must understand that those who encourage them to fight are not willing to sacrifice their own children. Their sons and daughters are in universities, pursuing education and opportunities, while they seek to push other people’s children into danger,” he said.

The engineer stressed that no political ambition, ethnic rivalry, or personal interest should be considered valuable enough to cost young people their lives, dreams, and future prospects.

He noted that violence only produces pain, destruction, and underdevelopment, adding that the future of Warri can only be secured through education, entrepreneurship, peaceful coexistence, and unity.

Gbaboyor’s remarks come amid rising tensions over the ward delineation exercise within Warri Federal Constituency, a development that has generated heated reactions among the three major ethnic nationalities in the area — the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo peoples.

He appealed to all stakeholders to remain calm and pursue peaceful and constitutional means of resolving disagreements.

“The ward delineation matter should be addressed through lawful channels, constructive dialogue, consultations, and all democratic mechanisms provided by the Constitution and relevant institutions,” he stated.

He emphasized that disagreements are normal in every democratic society but warned that threats, violence, and inflammatory rhetoric could jeopardize the peace and stability that have sustained the region for decades.

The peace advocate further observed that the people of Warri share deep social, economic, and family ties that transcend ethnic boundaries, making conflict a threat to everyone regardless of tribe or political affiliation.

“The people of Warri have lived together, traded together, built friendships together, and in many cases, become one family. Any crisis will affect everyone. History has consistently shown that while a few may benefit from conflict, the majority suffer insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, and loss of lives,” he said.

Gbaboyor therefore urged community leaders, traditional rulers, political actors, youth groups, religious organizations, and concerned citizens to unite in promoting peace and discouraging divisive narratives.

He called for grievances to be addressed through legal and democratic processes, stressing that dialogue must replace hostility and understanding must triumph over suspicion.

Reaffirming the importance of peaceful coexistence among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, he said the collective development, stability, and prosperity of Warri should remain the overriding priority for all stakeholders.

“Warri must not be allowed to descend into crisis. The Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo people have far more to gain from cooperation than from conflict. Let us choose peace over violence, dialogue over confrontation, and unity over division. The future of Warri depends on it,” he concluded.

The statement has since sparked conversations across the constituency, with many residents echoing calls for restraint and urging all parties involved in the ward delineation dispute to prioritize peace and lawful engagement over actions capable of threatening the region’s stability.