Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has said development cannot be accomplished in the face of crisis in the communities, stressing that there can only be improvement when the people live in peace.
Governor Fubara stated this while declaring open the 117th and 118th Quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Council Secretariat on Monday.
The governor noted that God has placed the responsibility of superintending over their communities as leaders adding that they must take charge of their various communities and assured them of support financially to ensure that they secure their domain.
Decrying the activities of oil bunkering in some communities, Gov. Fubara stated that the Federal Government is doing everything to ensure that oil production level increases but everyday there has been issues of bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“These people that are carrying out these acts are not coming from the moon, they live in our communities and we know them. I am charging this Council as a first step, please take charge of your communities. If there is any information you want to share with us, do so. The overall interest is that we need our country to progress, be stable and grow economically, and it can only be through our stable oil production.”
He commended the chairman of the Council for showing leadership within a short time and urged the Traditional Rulers to work together for peace and development of the state, assuring of his commitment to providing official vehicles to them but in phases, proposing to monetise it for those who chose the option.
“What we are doing today is not politics, but performing our duty as a government and I want to commend the chairman who is barely 3 months in office and he is able to put this meeting together, it shows leadership.”
“There is nothing new that has happened. The immediate past Chairmen served out his tenure, which is one year. It is at the discretion of the governor to extend it or not. I believe from my assessment there was no reason to extend it, rather to bring in a new blood. And what we did is in good faith because our community and people are more important.”
In his address, Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing him Chairman of the Council to contribute to the development of the Council and Rivers State.
He appealed to the governor to continue to maintain peace in the State even in the face of the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians, pleading that he continues to prevail on his supporters not to be drawn into violence by his detractors
The Royal Father urged Rivers people on all sides of the political divide to always remember that there is nowhere to call home except Rivers State and must guide against personal interests that could destroy the peace, stability, and growth of the State, adding that traditional rulers must continue to rein in their subjects to eschew politics of bitterness and violence.
“As traditional rulers, we owe our state the duty of making it peaceful by cautioning our children against violent acts. We therefore, cannot caution anybody if we allow ourselves to become overly partisan; we will then lose the moral authority to reprimand those causing trouble when we take sides. So, I say, let us all work assiduously to maintain peace in Rivers State.”
Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Chieftancy and Community Affairs, Engr. Charles Amadi applauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara for stabilizing the Traditional Rulers Council through the appointment of Eze Ohna Apara, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo and his immense support to their quarterly meetings.
He urged the Traditional Rulers to stem the tide of crisis brewing in some of their communities so as to ensure peace that will promote development.
