2019 Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Cup officially announced

By Loveth Ojogun

The National coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Ambassador Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has officially announced the date for the 2019 Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and unity cup competition.

The disclosure was made at a press briefing in Warri, Delta state, adding that the competition which was also known as the ‘Comrade Mulade Sheriff Peace and Unity Cup’ was initiated in 2017.

Checks revealed that it was founded to promote the oneness of these ethnic groupings with a long history of conflicts and rivalry.

Sheriff noted that his reasons for the competition came from his knowledge of football as an instrument that builds tranquility, cohesion, love and unity among people of divergent views.

According to Sheriff, “It is the exemplifying nature of football as a strong tool for oneness and a resolver of ethnic conflicts that brought about the birth of the Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Cup competition.”

The football competition was not only for the purpose of building peace in the area, but also to harness football talents in Delta State.

Sheriff, who’s a member of the Delta State Football Association Board, (DFAB ), said the 2nd Edition of the annual Comrade Mulade Sheriff Peace and Unity Cup, was scheduled for the November 16-30 2019.

According to him, “The communities will have to pick younger players to represent them because African Grassroots Football Development team will be on ground to select the best players.”