In a move to foster peace and development in the Niger Delta region, traditional rulers are advocating for transparency and collaboration between oil multinationals, government agencies, and local communities.
This clarion call was made at a recent training programme facilitated by the Community and Rural Development (CRD) Directorate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The programme, which brought together traditional rulers from Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states, emphasized the need for inclusive decision-making processes.
Speaking in an interview, King Air Commodore Tansiki Ogube (rtd) Traditional Ruler of Kerike Kingdom in Rivers State, lamented that oil companies often bypass traditional rulers, instead dealing with individuals perceived to be violent and uninterested in community development.
Ogube stressed that traditional rulers are not opposed to development but want to be part of the decision-making process.
“We are not against development, but we want to be part of the decision-making process,” he said.
Dr. Toboro Andy Godwill, Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil and Mineral Producing Communities in Bayelsa State, echoed Ogube’s sentiments, emphasizing that collaboration is key to fostering peace in the region.
“Today’s leadership is based on development, and development will come from governmental and industrialization,” he said.
Godwill noted that traditional institutions and governments must work together to ensure that developmental projects are implemented transparently.
“If those who are providing development in the community are open-minded, as we are doing here, let there be a collaboration between the traditional institution and the government,” he said.
Stanley Okereke, a resource person at the training program, highlighted the critical role traditional rulers play in building sustainable peace.
He said: “With sustainable peace, there won’t be sustainable development, and so they have a very huge amount of work to do at the community level.”
Dr. Carol Ebuta, another resource person, emphasized that traditional rulers should capitalize on their trust and moral authority to facilitate communication between their communities and governments.
She noted that traditional rulers can promote social unity and should be engaged by governments to ensure peace and stability in the region.