Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi,has charged traditional rulers in the
state to make health centres and educational facilities in their
respective communities their second palace.
Umahi, while inaugurating the state’s Council of Traditional Rulers at the
Government House in Abakaliki on Tuesday, explained that this would help
check the declining status of the two important sectors of the society.
He said, “The health centres are now your second palace . You are now the
patrons of the health centres.
“You are also in- charge of our educational system. If in any community, I
find a child that is not in school,I will not discipline you because you
are my fathers ,but I will turn my face in the other way and the law will
take its course.
A statement on Thursday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma
Anya, said Umahi also enjoined the traditional rulers to maintain peace
in their various communities.
The governor, who was full of praises for the roles played by the
traditional rulers in restoring peace in Ezillo and Ezza/Ezillo
communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state ,said monarchs
must remain the chief security officers of their communities.
His words, “There is no way you can be Ezes (monarchs) and we are having
crises,it with will not work. We must know about crises before they even
blow up.
“We have the Commissioner for Peace and Conflict Resolution.. We also have
the senior Special Assistant on Security. We have the Secretary to State
Government. We have the Deputy Governor,we have the governor. We have the
Attorney Genneral ,the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy
Matters ,SAs on Chieftaincy Matters and Attitudinal Change.So you have
many channels to get us wnen you sense any problem.
“If I hear of cultism in your domain,I will turn my face the other way.
Kidnapping and child trafficking must not happen in your domain.”
The state newly constituted traditional council has Eze Charles Mkpuma
as chairman.
In their acceptance speech,Eze Mkpuma assured of the total support of the
royal fathers to Umahi and his administration.