S’East, S’South monarchs unite for regional devt

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Monarchs from South East and South South regions have vowed to work together to drive development in the areas.

The joint meeting of the Executive Committees of the South East Traditional Rulers Council and the South-South Monarchs Forum, held in Umuahia, Abia State, resolved to uphold the dignity of the traditional institution, promote inter-zonal cultural activities and tourism, facilitate development of oil, gas, coal, and other mineral resources, contribute to peace and stability in the regions and promote equity, fairness, and justice.

The monarchs also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters from the regions into key positions and commended his commitment to regional integration.

The resolutions by the monarchs signed by Eze Emmanuel Okeke, Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse chairman, South-South Monarchs Forum, also recognised the need for strong cultural ties for seamless harmony amongst the cultural entities in the heterogeneous communities in the two regions.

Among other matters, the monarchs appreciated “the significance for nurturing and sustaining cooperation while keeping behind them their differences stemming from the savagery of the war and the consequential personal and collective losses from it, upholding the dignity of the traditional institution which has had quite a beating in the country in the last five decades, especially in the south-east and south-south zones.

They also thanked Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his gracious support and for declaring the meeting open and also commended the federal ministers and other appointees from the South-East and South-South extractions for their steadfastness, innovation, dexterity, doggedness and superlative performance of their jobs.

The monarchs equally express gratitude to the executive governors of the two regions for their complementary roles in enhancing sustainable development and security in the heterogeneous communities in the zones.