The need for clearly defined constitutional roles for traditional rulers has been stressed. This is contained in an eight point communiqué issued by participants at the end of a one-day seminar for traditional rulers, stakeholders and institutions in Asaba, Delta State.
Participants at the conference with the theme: ‘’Building prosperous and peaceful kingdoms in Delta State,” recommended that traditional rulers should be mainstreamed into the security architecture of the state and their localities.
The communiqué, jointly signed by the Vice Chancellor, Dennis Osadebe University, Anwai, Prof. Ben Oghojafor, the Obi of Owa and Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, and Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Judiciary and Chairman, Prerogative of Mercy Committee, Dr. A.K. Osawota, called for appropriate measures to promote Increased synergy between traditional rulers and political leadership.
Participants underscored the urgent need to restore quarterly meetings of the state governor, local government chairmen and traditional rulers to enhance working relationship among stakeholders.
The conference stressed the need for strict adherence to procedures guiding succession to traditional ruler succession as provided for by law and insisted that reverence for traditional rulers should be sustained as they were closest authority to the grassroots.
They also called for the creation of an enabling law to curb what participants referred to as excesses of presidents of Community Development Unions across the state.
