– Appreciates Members, Abia Gov, Otti, Others For Input
Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Eze Dr E.C. Okeke, who is also the Chairman, Imo State Traditional Institution and Community Policing, recently concluded his inaugural meeting as the new Chairman of the council.
The meeting which was held at the Abia State capital, Umuahia, was attended by a high powered delegation by all the state chapters ably led by their respective Chairmen.
This was contained in a release signed by the Chairman,South East Council of Traditional Rulers , Ezeimo Palace, Mbari, Owerri, “the meeting commenced at about 2pm the Nigerian time and was officially declared opened by the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Chief Alex Chioma Otti.
In his remark, the Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Dr E.C Okeke CFR, thanked the Abia State Governor, Chief Alex Otti for providing the enabling environment for the successful hosting of the meeting. The Chairman commended the Governor for his good works and current infrastructural transformation going on in Abia State and attributed it to the Governor’s clear cut vision and determination to transform the state and urged him to sustain the tempo.
Eze Okeke expressed appreciation to his brother traditional rulers who came from far and near to participate in his inaugural meeting which according to him was a source of happiness to him, considering his present status as the new Chairman of the Council. He called for continued unity of purpose and solidarity among the traditional rulers of South East Nigeria and good working relationship between them and the political, religious and opinion leaders so that South East would continue to harvest peace, progress, development and prosperity.
The traditional rulers rose from the meeting in one voice and called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to deploy political solution and effect the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. According to the Royal Fathers, that singular gesture will make it possible for the good people of the South East to know the real cause of insecurity in the zone whether the spate of insecurity in the zone is externally induced by enemies from outside or otherwise.
The Royal Fathers also reaffirmed their earlier stand in previous meetings against their subjects in Diaspora who parade themselves as Ezendigbo in none Igbo Cities and foreign Countries and viewed such as an aberration and assault on Igbo tradition and heritage as handed over to generations by their ancestors. They called on traditional rulers in such places to intervene and checkmate such excesses.
Also the South East Council of Traditional Rulers made a serious case for the creation of additional State for the geopolitical zone so that it would be at par with others who have more states than it. The Royal Fathers insisted that creating additional State for the geopolitical zone will address the continued marginalization of Ndigbo and promote equity and fairness in the national scheme of things.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Chief Alex Otti commended the Royal Fathers for choosing Abia State for their meeting .He admonished leaders at various levels to always see leadership as a call to serve and make sacrifices for growth and development of the society. He observed the sacredness of the position of the traditional rulers which is not an all comers’ affair. According to him, the institution should be made to have well established processes and protocols for smooth succession when vacancies occur instead of the recurring cases of succession disputes and unnecessary acrimonies.
The Governor assured the traditional Rulers’ Council of his continued support to the traditional institution in the State and South East in general and invited them to savour the hospitality of the State which is adequately provided to make their stay a memorable one”.
