*Stresses on viability of Ethiope State
*Calls for more women inclusion in governance
*Also advocates for prudent resource management
By Victor Lewis
The royal father of Idjerhe kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Ovie Monday Obukowho Whiskey (Udurhie I), has thrown his weight behind the proposal for the creation of Ethiope State out of the present Delta State, stressing that the proposed new state will have all it takes to remain viable.
This is even as the monarch strongly advocated a constitutional responsibility for royal fathers, albeit, the traditional institution, women inclusion in governance, prudent resource management as well as addressing the problem of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, in the ongoing Constitutional Review.
HRM Ovie Monday Whiskey who stated this while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, on the occasion of the Section A of the South South Zonal Public Hearing on the ongoing Constitutional Review last weekend, also advocated a constitutional provision for more inclusion of women in governance.
The royal father stated that the Urhobos who constitute the fifth largest ethnic nationality in the country, has all it takes to maintain and sustain the status of an independent state, adding that the abundance of oil and gas, solid minerals, arable land for agriculture, water resources and abundant manpower will make the proposed Ethiope State the envy of other States in the country.
“If you check the distance from Ologbo to Patani Town and you look at the population and you look at the resources available, you look at the manpower and you look at the materials available, there will be no other State in Nigeria that will be more viable than Ethiope State. In terms of size, in terms of population and in terms of mineral resources, creation of Ethiope State is a welcome development.
“Creating a State for the Urhobos, the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria will give them a true identity. I support it. It is economically viable, politically reasonable and intellectually sound. We have what it takes to run a State without depending on the federal government.
“In only my Local Government Area, we have almost 180 oil wells. What does it take to run a State? Is it not money,? We have the money, we have the resources and we have the manpower. In my kingdom, I have 40 professors, other kingdoms also have several professors. There is no Urhobo kingdom with less than five professors. What does it take to run a State? We have the men, we have the materials, we have fertile land for agriculture. So, we are good to go as a State”, the royal father said.
Addressing the issue of peace and security in the country, the Idjerhe monarch said that the royal fathers in the country are doing their best to ensure that there is peace in their respective kingdoms, adding that they are handicapped due to lack of constitutional power.
He therefore advocated a provision in the Constitution that will emerge from the ongoing review, a provision that will empower royal fathers and, indeed, the traditional institutions, to take critical decisions and actions that will affect the people, adding that peace in each of the kingdoms translates to peace in all the Local Government Areas and by extension, peace in all the States of the federation.
“And we must also look for a constitution that will adequately provide a position for the traditional institution of the Nigerian country. The royal fathers must be allowed to have a say in the administration of their people.
“Of course, you know that without the traditional institution there is no governance at the grassroots. So, if they are the authorities at the local level, and you have peace in all the kingdoms of Nigeria, that translates to the peace in all the 774 Local Government Areas in the country. That also translates to peace in all the 36 States of the country including the FCT, Abuja. So, who made that possible? It is the royal institutions.
“But in doing this, we are now in the modern world where people ask unnecessary questions, traditional rulers must have constitutional responsibility so that when you take certain decisions or carry out certain actions, you should be backed up by the Constitution of your country”, he said.
The royal father also took a swipe at the poor representation and participation of women in governance in the country. He therefore advocated a provision in the Constitution that will authorize adequate inclusion of the women folks in political and public offices.
He said: “We must also look at the serious issue that has to do with women inclusion nto positions. Of course, we have seen some shortcomings. So, let us look at the possibilities of making a space for the women. Let’s see how far they can go.i believe strongly that giving the women some space in the new constitutional review will make Nigeria a better space.”
He highlighted the menace of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, adding a new constitution that will address the issue of judicious use of resources is what Nigerians are looking forward to.
“There are strong indications that if we have a constitution that will work and foster unity in the country, Nigeria will move forward. Look at the State of roads in the South South, if we have a constitution that has provisions for a better control of resources, the state of roads will not be like this.
“There are issues of Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta that a true constitution of the people will address. I think a new constitution that will work for the people of the South South Nigeria is a welcome development”, the monarch concluded.
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