A total of 230 royal fathers comprising one clan head and 229 village heads in Akwa Ibom State have been issued certificates of recognition by the state Government and tasked to redouble efforts in ensuring security in their respective domains.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, speaking Saturday during the event held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, lauded the traditional institution for playing the role of maintaining peace and security in the state.
The Governor traced threats to security in communities to cultism and charged the royal fathers to assist the state government in the provision of adequate security measures in their respective domains.
“As traditional rulers are closer to the people at the grassroot, it is your duty as village heads, clan heads and paramount rulers to rise up and make sure that we have adequate protection to lives and property within your communities,” Udom remarked.
He decried the high rate of moral decadence in the society particularly among the youths in the state, stressing the need for them to allow security form the major agenda in the traditional rulers’ council meetings.
“I want to charge you to stem the tide of cultism and vandalization of public infrastructure,” the governor admonished and assured them of government readiness to implement security measures taken at their individual domains.
With the increase in the population of communities, the Governor remarked, it has become extremely difficult for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to monitor every nook and cranny, imploring the rulers to offer useful information on perpetrators of crime in their areas.
He noted that the state government is vested with the authority to issue certificates of recognition where there are no legal injunctions, adding that the certificates can also be withdrawn at the final determination and judgment of the court.
Congratulating them on their official recognition, the State chief executive solicited grassroot support through the royal fathers, and charged them to mobilise their subjects to ensure continuation of the present administration beyond 2019 for the consolidation of on-going development programmes in the state.
The Governor appealed to the rulers to encourage their subjects to partake in the on-going voters registration which is ending by March 20, saying that the exercise would provide population figures that can also aid development planning.
Earlier, Nsikan Nkan, the Supervisory Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, had said that the issuance of the certificates was to show the state government’s friendly disposition to the traditional institution, applauding the newly recognised traditional rulers on their emergence from their respective communities.
Nkan said that the recognition of the royal fathers was in tandem and consistent with the provision of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Law 2000, Section 15, Cap 134.
He advised the traditional rulers not to use their approved certificates as instrument of vengeance against their perceived enemies or persons who had failed to support their emergence, charging them, “You should, rather use it to form an all-embracing and inclusive administration in your domains.”
Highpoint of the event was the formal presentation of the certificates by the Supervisory Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, assisted by paramount rulers of respective local Ggvernment areas.
The event was witnessed by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to the State Government; Edidem Ntoeng Udo Effiong Akpan, Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council and Paramount Ruler of Ini local government area; Paul Ekpo, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, among others.
