Traditional Rulers of oil and mineral-producing communities have emphasised transparency and collaboration between oil multinationals, government agencies, and local communities to foster peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
This was the consensus at a recent training programme facilitated by the Community and Rural Development Directorate of the Niger Delta Development Commission held in Port Harcourt.
The programme held simultaneously in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, brought together traditional rulers from Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states and will be in the nine states under NDDC.
The theme of the programme is “Capacity Building on Emerging Trends in Rural Governance”.
Speaking, one of the participants and Traditional Rulers of Kerike Kingdom in Rivers State, King, Air Commodore, Tansiki Ogube(retd.) said the lack of transparency and collaboration has led to conflicts in the region.
Ogube lamented that the oil companies are not dealing with the monarchs but with people seen to be violent, especially those who do not have an interest in the development of the community.
According to him, “The service providers come into a community, select a few people, and recognize them as the board of directors without discussing with the traditional rulers.
“We are not against development, but we want to be part of the decision-making process.”
Also, the Chairman Traditional Rulers of Oil and Mineral Producing Communities, Bayelsa State, Dr. Toboro Andy Godwill, emphasized that collaboration is key to fostering peace in the region.
Godwill noted that the traditional institution and the government must work together to ensure that developmental projects are implemented without hoarding information.
He stated, “Today’s leadership is based on development, and development will come from governmental and industrialisation.
“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. ”
Stanley Okereke, a resource person at the training programme, emphasised the critical role of traditional rulers in building sustainable peace.
A resource person, Dr Carol Ebuta, in her paper titled: “Entrenching Peace, Progress and Stability in the Niger Delta Through Engagement with Traditional Institutions” urged traditional rulers to capitalise on trust and moral authority.
Ebuta implores them to build the ability to facilitate communication between their community and government and nurture the capacity for promoting social unity.