By Jennifer John
The dust raised by the recent brouhaha over the leadership of the Imo state council of Traditional Rulers especially, as it affects the position of the chairman of the council, has finally settled following Governor Hope Uzodimma’s disclosure yesterday, that the tenure of the current council of the traditional rulers has expired.
The Governor, who addressed the traditional rulers at their secretariat in Owerri, said it was the protocols associated with the coronavirus pandemic that have delayed the reconstitute the council soon after consultations with stakeholders.
Uzodimma has promised to improved welfare package for Imo traditional rulers which he said will return their dignity, esteem and make them stand tall in the committee of traditional rulers across the Nigeria.
The governor made this promise during an interactive meeting he held with the traditional rulers at the Eze Imo palace at Mbari street, Owerri which he said was centred mainly on the community policing initiative which he said will drastically reduce crimes in the communities and country at large.
He made it clear that traditional rulership in state must be practiced as a full time business and noting that traditional rulers must reside in their communities. He said all incentives for the traditional institution will be returned while the respect due to them must be accorded them by his government.
He made it clear that Eze’s, in addition to being the chief custodians of culture and tradition of their communities, are the Chief Security Officers of their community who must live up to the responsibility,as they have great role to play in ensuring security in their domains and the state by extension.
He made it clear that traditional rulership in the state must be practiced as a full time business and made it clear that traditional rulers must reside in their communities. He said all incentives for the traditional institution will be returned while the respect due to the traditional rulers must be accorded them by his government.
According to the governor traditional rulers will henceforth be involved in the selection and appointment of Town Union Presidents who They will also stand as surety for. He consequently charged them to go back to their communities and liaise with critical stakeholders and conduct credible town union election to produce credible town union presidents.
“We will not allow anything that will impoverish our traditional rulers. I will not be summoning you. I cannot summon my traditional rulers. I want you to be bold to tell me whenever I am not doing well.
