Former President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday charged traditional rulers
across the country not to shirk from their responsibility of working
towards ensuring that peace reigns in their domains.
Jonathan gave this charge in Oporoza, Delta State at the official
presentation of staff of office to His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaran II,
Aketekpe, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, just as the Delta State
Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa described the former President as a man
of peace who left good lessons for all Nigerians.
A statement issued by the former President’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu
Eze, said that Jonathan also urged the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom and
other traditional rulers to galvanize their subjects for the social
and economic development of their kingdoms.
The former President described traditional rulers as special beings
who occupy positions higher than that of mere mortals, noting that as
such, they should play key roles in the development aspirations of the
nation.
Jonathan said: “Although we have here present, the governor, deputy
governor, members of the National and State Assemblies, as well as
other dignitaries holding positions in Government, at the traditional
level we have only two sets of citizens; the ordinary mortals to which
I also belong, and the superior mortals who are our traditional
rulers. They are superior mortals because of what they represent and
also because we believe in them. And we believe that they have a lot
to do to stabilize their kingdoms.
“The governor has made a case for peace and I don’t want to belabour
the point. But I always say that there can never be development
without peace. It is the duty of every traditional ruler to have peace
in his kingdom. They should also be able to mobilise their sons and
daughters for the social and economic development of the people.
Although he believes that the situation could be improved, Jonathan
further affirmed that there is relative peace in the region. “In most
cases, when we talk about the Niger Delta, those coming from outside
our region will always think that it is a place where people cannot
gather peacefully to handle this kind of ceremony. But here we are
gathered and conducting our affairs in a peaceful environment. That
gives me joy.”
He also urged Nigerians to lend their support to the effort to fully
harness the abundant potentials of our great nation, stressing that
Nigeria will continue to be a leading country in Africa and the world.
On the current hardship and economic difficulties in the land,
Jonathan advised Nigerians to be peaceful, law abiding and optimistic,
adding that the country would soon get over its temporary challenges.
“I believe that within this period there are challenges in the
country, there are challenges in the Niger Delta and Gbaramatu
Kingdom, but all these are temporary. Surely, our society will get
over it. I believe Nigeria is still a great country and will continue
to go on. Nigeria will succeed, Niger Delta will succeed and Gbaramatu
Kingdom will succeed.”
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who spoke earlier described
Jonathan as a father figure in the Niger Delta who had done so much to
stabilize the region and country.
“He (Jonathan) has done his best for this country. This country is
united today because of the decisions that were taken for the best
interest of our country. He is a man of peace and that is a lesson for
us to learn, those of us who are still in Government and even our
brothers and sisters who are not in Government; that in a peaceful
situation, there is always a lot that can be achieved.”