‘Give All Local Govts First Class Stools’

Stakeholders have called
on the Rivers State government to ensure that the State Council of Traditional Rulers is made up of equal representation of first class chiefs from all the 23 local government areas of the state.
This is contained in various memoranda presented at a public hearing on the State Chieftaincy and Council of Chiefs Bill 2014 organised by the State House of Assembly.
Some of the traditional rulers frowned at a situation where a traditional ruler in one local government receives five per cent stipends accruing to traditional rulers from other local government areas that are not recognised as first class chiefs.
They, therefore, canvassed for the elevation of more traditional stools to first class in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
In a memorandum signed by HRH, King Reuben Z. Amos and eight others, traditional rulers from Degema local government area submitted that in the interest of natural justice and fairness, all local governments in the state should have a first class Chief representation in the state council of traditional rulers.
The traditional rulers also called for expurgation of section 36, of the bill, arguing that the sub section 3 and 4 of the section were not in the interest of the state and are capable of igniting crisis among the people of the state.
Speaking in the same vein, HRH, Chief Deniss Ololube the Unwo-Kpe-Ke-Ete 1 of Akoh in Ahoada-East, says there is the need for each local government area to have equal representation of first class chiefs in the state council of traditional rulers.
According to him, since local government areas were created to be autonomous, there was need for even sharing, including the recognition of stools among the local government areas in the state.
Other stakeholders who supported the move were Chief Norman Tom-Iboroma of Bakana, Chairman Tombia Council of Chiefs, Chief Lucas Aluye-Benibo and the Nwamoema of Bukuma-Agum, S.J. Tobins.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM, King Godwin Giniwa, has cautioned the House of Assembly Adhoc Committee on the Chieftaincy and Council of Chiefs Bill to be careful while presenting all the submissions from various stakeholders to the House, as any little omission might rubbish the entire exercise.
He expressed optimism that the leadership of the Committee would not allow the whole efforts to be in futility.
Earlier, the Ad-hoc Committee Chairman who is also the Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd had assured that all the inputs and contributions at the public hearing would be considered by the legislators before the bill is passed.
He explained that the function of the committee was not to recognise any stool, but to ensure total review of chieftaincy laws for improvement of chieftaincy stools in the state.
He commended the chiefs and people of the state for their memorandums, inputs and contributions, noting that the bill was intended to provide for the classification of chiefs and recognition of chieftaincy stools in the establishment of Rivers State Council of Chiefs.

Enoch Epelle