The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that any Traditional Ruler found to be using his title to pursue partisan politics, will be weeded out of the system.

The governor gave this warning at the 104th quarterly meeting of the Traditional Council of first, second and third class chiefs at the Council Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Governor Wike also charged the traditional rulers to ensure that the security of their various communities does not degenerate under their watch.

The agenda of the meeting was to address issues relating to the peace and security of their communities.

The King of Opobo Kingdom and Head of the Traditional Stool, Dandeson Jaja, said so far, the amnesty programme of the government is yielding results.

In his words, “we are satisfied with the government’s amnesty programme, as some persons who had earlier deserted their communities are returning back due to the seeming calm in their area as a result of those who have returned their arms”

The governor however charged the Traditional Rulers to do more to achieve security in their communities

“No traditional ruler worth his title will allow his community to be taken over by conflicts and the activities of cultists and criminals.

“I therefore advise you to warn your subjects to accept the government’s amnesty offer before it is too late,” he said.

On the issue of non-conclusion of polls, and the development of the state, Governor Wike said: “we are all aware that elections were said to have been conducted in Borno, where you have Sambisa forest, Yobe and Adamawa.

“But in the case of Rivers, they say they cannot conduct election because of insecurity, now the state lacks representation in the senate where matters of Petroleum Industry Bill and constitutional amendment is being discussed.

This according to him, was “unacceptable”.

Senator Ekweremadu on Wednessday also expressed worry that INEC was breaching the Electoral Act by failing to conduct the senatorial rerun election in the state.

He stated that the act had led to the absence of representatives from Rivers State both in the Senate and House of Representatives after the elections were declared inconclusive.

Land Reclamation Exercise

The governor met with Traditional Rulers from Ogbum-na-Abali community, where he assured that the land reclamation exercise by the government was to chase away criminal in their community and bring development to the people.