President Bola Tinubu has assured traditional rulers from the South-South geopolitical zone that his government is committed to addressing their concerns over development and environmental degradation.
The President gave the assurance on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with the South-South Monarchs Forum, led by Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Vice-Chairman of the South-South Monarchs Forum, His Royal Majesty, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd).
President Tinubu told the Royal Fathers that his administration is diligently working, both domestically and internationally, to strengthen Nigeria’s durability and approach to climate change, environmental restoration, infrastructure development, all while ensuring security and stability in the region.
While lauding the monarchs for their understanding approach to his government’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, the President promised that Nigerians would soon enjoy the benefits of these tough, yet necessary decisions.
According to him: ”We are working to revive the economy from the damage of several years. We seek your support, prayers, and understanding, and I am glad that the Vice-Chairman of the Forum served in an organization where we need intelligence to operate.
”You (the traditional institution) will be the source of the intelligence we need for the holistic development of our country, and anytime you need to tell us something, do not hesitate to reach out to this office. I will take on all of your concerns, and I will address each of them one by one.
”We cannot underestimate your contributions to the peace and stability of this country. Continue to uphold us in your prayers and in talking to our youths to keep faith with the country because light is already visible at the end of the tunnel”.
Earlier in his remarks, His Royal Majesty, Major-General Mujakperuo appealed to President Tinubu to follow up on all developmental efforts in the region to be sure that progress is tangible to the people.
“Mr. President, you know the problems of our region as an expert with experience in the energy industry. We see you working hard to solve our problems, and we are comforted that you have pledged to take on our concerns and bring a final solution to them,” the further said.
Speaking with newsmen after the visit, Major General Mujakperuo canvassed presidential intervention to provide succour for the people of the oil-rich region.
He lamented the predicament of the region despite being the golden goose that lays the golden eggs.
His words: “In the region we produce,we give resources to the country and yet we are suffering in the midst of plenty.
“There are a lot of things that we said he should do for us like the East West Road that has been abandoned for so many years and most of the roads in the South south you cannot have access to Abuja. From PortHarcourt to Ana is not passable, from Benin to Uromi, to Okene are not passable.
“We also felt like he should try and link up the Itakpe railway to Abuja, so that right from Warri we can safely drive to Abuja.
“We feel that if those ports are revived it will bring employment for our people and it will improve the economy of this country.
“We just have to catalogue of our sufferings and what we want the President to do for us, so that we can feel that we are part of this country.
“The President said he will look at our request and he will do the needful,” the monarch said.
Also commenting on the visit by the traditional leaders, Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, noted that “these are the owners of the region, the more you engage them they will talk to the youths and those who are involved but when you keep them away it becomes a problem because they will not have that sense of belonging of continuing to talk to the people and above all is also to look at the infrastructure of the region.
“When we engage the youths in entrepreneurship training and the rest of them it can also step down the wave of theft.
“The door should be opened to the people like this because they are the custodian of the peace of Niger Delta ,the meeting that has happened today I can regard as a huge success,” Momoh said.
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