The Paramount Ruler of
Seimbiri kingdom in Burutu Local Government of Delta State, Pere Ayemi-Botu,  has called for more constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country.
Ayemi-Botu who made the call in an interview in Benin last Saturday, said it would help to stabilise the nation adding that traditional rulers, before the advent of colonialism, traditionally govern their various kingdoms.
He added that the wealth of experience of traditional rulers in governance could not be over emphasised. “It was, therefore, unhealthy for politicians to relegate them to the background,” he noted.
The monarch said it was in view of the importance of the traditional institution that the 1999 Constitution spelt out an advisory role as function of traditional rulers.
He, however, stressed that monarchs in the country could handle more roles if included in the constitution.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 5,000 rice farmers are to benefit from this year’s Federal Government-assisted dry season farming in Edo State under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme.
The Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the state, Mr Wellington Omorgbon, said in Benin that the initiative was to ensure the nation’s self-sufficiency in food, especially rice, at all times.
He said that the 5,000 farmers were selected from Edo North and Edo Central where dry season rice cultivation could be done in the state.
According to him, each of the farmers is expected to cultivate one hectare of rice, amounting to 5,000 hectares.
Omorgbon said that the farmers were expected to harvest 20,000 metric tonnes of rice at the end of the season.
The director said that the farmers were supplied with free rice seeds and agro-chemicals at 50 per cent subsidised cost.