Curb Social Maladies Amongst Youths, Gov Obiano Charges Monarchs

KINGSLEY EZEKWELU

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has called on the traditional rulers to rise to the challenge of curbing social vice of cultism ravaging the communities through reorientation and enlightenment programmes, in order to remold the youths towards pursuing positive and meaningful goals. 

The governor made the call during the opening ceremonies of the 2018 annual seminar of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at their secretariat, Government House, Awka.

The seminar which was the 7th in the series, had as its theme, “Governor Obiano’s landslide electoral victory and the making of a united and greater Igbo nation”.

It was well attended by traditional rulers in the state and guests including the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; the Amanyanabo of Opobo, Dandison-Douglas Jaja among others. It featured paper presentations and interactive sessions.

While declaring the seminar open, Gov Obiano thanked the traditional rulers for the roles they played in making his 21/21 victory possible and sustaining peace in the State, as well as the tolerance and maturity they exhibited towards handling the Fulani herdsmen – farmers issue that had prevented a major crisis.

He disclosed that as the host for the recent Ohanaeze Summit on Restructuring, what he had done was to forward the Ekwueme Square Declaration to his counterparts in other states and summon a meeting where the communique would be ratified and taken ownership of by the SouthEast governors.

He noted that his government is committed to developing the state but it cannot do it alone, calling on the traditional rulers to continue to support his administration’s vision for the transformation of the state.

The Chairman of the Council and traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe observed that Gov Obiano has made Anambra a model state in Nigeria across many areas including security, Agriculture, community development and politics, noting that destiny had designed it that he will lead the state and Ndigbo towards the desired destination.

According to him, the event was an opportunity to discuss on the journey which Ndigbo had started towards self-discovery and strategic positioning in the politics of Nigeria, using the Obiano electoral victory.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo acknowledged that there had been sustained growth trajectory in Anambra State due to sustained visionary leaderships, thanking Gov Obiano for his immense contributions towards the Igbo cause.

In a keynote remark, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the event and traditional ruler of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor expressed hope that the year’s seminar will yield answers to the socioeconomic challenges of Ndigbo and thanked Gov Obiano for keeping faith with the traditional rulers.

In a goodwill message, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, Dandison Douglas Jaja said the cordial relationship between the Governor and the traditional rulers as well as his community development initiatives are very laudable and should be emulated by other governors in the country.

He said with the way Anambra was going, it was sure to become a reference point in terms of development in the near future.

Governor Obiano was during the ceremony presented with a plaque by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership in appreciation of his decision to host her recently concluded summit on Restructuring of Nigeria.