Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has suggested an end to the Igbo tribe setting up traditional institutions outside the South-East with the aim of promoting and not interfering with the cultures of their host communities.
He said this at a summit organised by the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria in Imo state.
According to Okorocha, the aim of promoting peace and unity is important because people need to understand that traditional rulers of the host communities are ready and willing to help.
“An Igbo man will leave his home and go to Lagos and acquire properties, sometimes try to put in their culture and this is very offensive to other tribes and cultural groups.
“An interference with their culture also makes them angry. This is why I think that the issue of having a traditional institution in other parts of this country should stop henceforth to allow the culture of the people in those areas to prevail. If you allow these traditional rulers the opportunity, they will support you more than their own.”
READ ALSO: ‘I Can’t Go Back To My Village’, Northern Lawmakers Decry Security Situation
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who spoke at the summit, urged other traditional rulers to ‘walk the talk’ and play their roles in maintaining peace in the country.
“We shouldn’t just talk the talk, we should walk that talk; our role as traditional rulers is very pivotal.
“We know the good, bad and the ugly in our various kingdoms, we know everything. It is because the government has not been very supportive.”
He further said that the government is ready to listen and cooperate with the rulers because they know the level of importance the rulers play in peace-keeping.
“This time around, we have a government that really wants to listen to us and we pray someday, we will have a pride of place to sit down together,
“They are doing government on our behalf; we all know that because anytime they want to assign and attain a particular position in politics, they visit our various palaces for royal blessings. If they don’t have any recognition with us, they would not come to our various palaces.”
