Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on traditional rulers to take proactive measures against illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in their communities. Addressing the 117th/118th Combined Quarterly General Meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, he emphasized the collective duty to ensure Nigeria’s stability and economic growth.

Combating Economic Sabotage

Governor Fubara stressed the importance of traditional rulers in maintaining order and preventing economic sabotage within their domains. He highlighted the critical role of crude oil production in the nation’s economy and urged leaders to actively discourage youths from engaging in illegal activities.

“I want to see a different society from this hour. The Federal Government is doing everything to see that our crude oil production level increases. But every day, we are having issues of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalization and all the associated problems,” he said.

The Governor pointed out that those involved in these activities are known within their communities. “All these people that are carrying out these evil acts, they’re not coming from the moon, they live in our communities, we know them. I am charging this council, as a first step, take charge of your communities.”

He assured traditional rulers of the government’s support, including financial assistance to create vigilante groups if necessary. “We are charging you, to please go back and take charge of your communities. I assure you of our support. If there is anything that we need to do, if it means government sending you some little support financially to create your own vigilante to help, we will do it.”

Leadership and Community Development

Governor Fubara expressed his gratitude for the council’s resilience despite political challenges. He clarified that his actions, including appointing a new chairman for the Council of Traditional Rulers, were in good faith and aimed at fostering unity and effective leadership.

“There is nothing new that has happened. The immediate past chairman served out his tenure, and the tenure is usually a one-year duration. It is at the discretion of the Governor to extend such tenure. I believe, from my own assessment, there was no reason to extend it, but rather to bring in fresh blood that can bring the council together,” he explained.

He charged the newly appointed chairman, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, to lead with the fear of God and a spirit of accommodation. “I want you to lead this council with the understanding that you are dealing with people that are independent, and feeding their own families. So, you need to have a spirit and heart of accommodation and tolerate them. Make your point very straight when you talk to them. I strongly believe that they are mature enough to give you the required support.”

Emphasizing Peace and Stability

Governor Fubara underscored the necessity of peace for development and urged traditional rulers to prioritize it in their communities. “Continue to make peace the most important agenda of your reign and locality. It is only on that, that it will now reflect in our State. We need total peace in our State. We cannot develop in the face of crisis. We can only improve when every person is living peacefully.”

In his address, the new chairman, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, thanked Governor Fubara for maintaining peace despite political turmoil. He advised the Governor to avoid violence and encouraged all sides of the political divide to prioritize the state’s stability and growth.

Eze Wodo emphasized the duty of traditional rulers to maintain peace and avoid partisanship. “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.”

Source: Vanguard