From Ben Dunno, Warri
Traditional Rulers of the Oil and Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCOM), Delta State, has expressed the need for traditional rulers to be assigned constitutional roles, to achieve sustainable regional development.
Lamenting the current situation where their inputs were not being considered, especially in the choice of projects in their domains, the monarchs maintained that this accounted for the noticeable stunted sustainable development in the region.
While reaffirming their commitment to the growth of their domains in line with yearnings and aspirations of their people, the royal fathers noted that the lack of power to backup their responsibility had always impeded on their genuine desire to work for the interest of their areas.
The body also decried the present situation where they were subjected to the whims and caprices of the ruling government: “Such constitutional lapses is largely responsible for shoddy execution of projects by most contractors in some communities, as they often disregard their inputs due to overriding political influence.”
The monarchs showcased their grievances during one-day “Capacity Building on Emerging Trends in Rural Governance,” in Orhunworun, Udu local government. It was organised by Community and Rural Development Unit, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for the executives of the state.
TROMPCOM chairman, Ovie of Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government, Anthony Ogbogbo Ibuka I, insisted: “The time to act is now.” He lauded NDDC: “It is a forum to ginger us up on what we are supposed to do and advise us on how we are supposed to go about them.”
He applauded the organisers for such a rare opportunity given to the traditional rulers to brainstorm on the contemporary issues inhibiting sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
Workshop facilitator, Stanley Okereke, called on all stakeholders, especially government, oil and gas companies to “come together to work in synergy, not working in isolation, or else we keep having retrogressive development.” He emphasised the imperative of traditional rulers in utilising their “indigenous knowledge” as local content into peace initiatives in the Niger Delta: “Hence, they have key roles to play in the narratives.
“If the traditional rulers are playing their roles effectively and efficiently, then the issue of violent conflict will actually not happen.
“Consequently, we need to develop a framework that will ensure that the traditional rulers are integrated into the system for managing peace and conflict in the Niger Delta.”