May Governor Alexander Otti Change His Attitude To Traditional Rulers Of Ukwa-West.
Monday (Afor)04-11-2024.
In the African context, Traditional Rulers are known and deserve to be treated as Royal Fathers. They are the custodians of the tradition and culture of their People. They, in most cases, intercede as a revered institution for harmony, peace and reconciliation. They equally stand for arbitration and justice.
In any decent constitutional setting, Traditional Rulers should radiate an aura of Royalty and a sense of fullness. It would be disrespectful, and, even, sacrilegious imagining a Traditional Ruler clad in an imagination of material deficiency, which could impact negatively on, not just their own psychology but also that of their subjects.
By providence, Ukwa-West, traditionally known as Asa, is the Oil-Producing Local Government Area of Abia State. In tandem with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, Abia State Government statutorily receives 13% Oil Derivation Fund, which runs into hundreds of millions of Naira, from the Federation Account every month.
It is important to note that the 13% Derivation Fund is what the Federal Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo mapped out for strategic interventions in Oil-Producing Areas that naturally suffer a lot of pollution, degradation and economic setbacks as a result of the effects of Oil exploration and exploitation.
It is unfortunate that in Abia State, only 30% of the 13% is earmarked for Abia State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission, ASOPADEC, which is the interventionist Agency the State created to address effects of devastations arising from Oil exploration and exploitation in the State.
No matter the shortcomings of the Law on ASOPADEC, Governor T A Orji (Ochendo) must be commended for initiating the Law, which was a manifestation of his genuine concern about the State’s Oil-Producing Area of the State.
Ochendo should also be commended for his patriotic zeal in making sure that Traditional Rulers of Ukwa-West, being the Oil-Producing Area of the State, were given befitting Cars (Jeeps) to make their status commensurate with their inherent Royalty.
Government, being a continuum, the Government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu also gave out good Cars to the Traditional Rulers of Ukwa-West in the first term of his Administration.
This is the practice in Oil-Producing States of the Federation. Traditional Rulers from Oil-Producing Areas of any Oil-Producing State are accorded substantial privileges of Royalty.
It is quite unfortunate and regrettable that in Abia State, under the present Government of Governor Alexander Otti, Traditional Rulers in Ukwa-West are treated as if the area where they rule is completely inconsequential to the growth of the State. The worst is that the Otti Government pays the Traditional Rulers of Ukwa-West a very paltry and disgraceful N37,000 per month. This, from every perspective, is insulting to Royalty in a land that flows with milk and honey.
It is, therefore, advised that the Government of Abia State should have a more dignifying mindset about Traditional Rulers in Ukwa-West. The vehicles given to them by the two previous Administrations in the State have been caught up by both age and deplorable road infrastructure in their area.
They deserve new Cars befitting their status as Traditional Rulers of the Oil-Producing Area of the State.
Besides, it is here suggested that, in view of the present economic realities in the State and Nigeria as a whole, and taking into consideration what they spend, in time and resources, maintaining harmony and peace in their Communities, no Traditional Ruler from Ukwa-West should be paid anything less than N500,000 a month.
Traditional Rulers, especially those from the Oil-Producing Area of the State, should not be reduced to pipsqueaks.
Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Ihemba/Ahaejiejemba of Umuiku-Isi-Asa Autonomous Community, Okwubunka of Asa, and Oke Amadi Gburugburu.
Former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State.
