Monarch Blames Neglect Of Traditional Institution For Security Threats

The Eze Igbu Upata III of Uptata Kingdom, King Felix Otuwarikpo, has attributed  neglect and less regard  to traditional institution as  part of the reasons Nigeria is in the web of terrible security challenges.
King Otuwarikpo said this at the just concluded South South Citizens Summit For National Integration, Peace And Security, organised by The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations ( NIPR),  tagged: “Reopen Conversation, Rebuild Trust”, held in Port Harcourt.
He argued that had the traditional institution been given its rightful positions by the concerned authorities, the country would not have been in the quagmire of security threat.
The Ekpeye apex King, noted that destroying the traditional institution was tantamount  to destroying the nation.
“ The things we are suffering today, are the consequences of undermining the traditional institution”, he said.
He further charged the NIPR to consider bringing the traditional rulers together and share the concept with them for the interest of the people.
Another reason he advanced for the insecurity in Nigeria,  was what he described as politicisation of the traditional institution and argued that, until such trend was reversed,  the expected may not be achieved.
He pointed out that traditional rulers have a major role to play in the search for solution  for insecurity, thus, the need to give them the required attention they deserved.
“The traditional rulers have a role in protecting national integration and other sundry issues”, he said.
He also did not spare his colleagues and charged them not to see the issue of residing in their domains as an option, rather as a condition precedent.
“How do you rule your people when you are outside them? Traditional rulers must reside in their domains”, he said.
 Earlier, he had expressed gratitude to the NIPR led by its Chairman, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, who is also the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State, for the prompt steps towards achieving peace and security in the country.

By: King Onunwor