Delta traditional rulers divided over summit

As the clock ticks faster towards the 2023 general election, the centre appears to be losing grip within the ranks of traditional rulers in Delta State.

This followed the proposed summit of the monarchs to deliberate on  power rotation in Delta State ahead of 2023 which is being kicked against by a section of the rulers.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council has dissociated itself from such a summit at its meeting held in Asaba last week.

According to the chairman of the council and the Orodje of Okpe, Major-General Felix Mujakpuerou (retd), the council was unaware of such a move, adding that the exalted institution should not be dragged into politics.

Recently, some monarchs  at a meeting of traditional rulers from Delta North and Central  senatorial zones held at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, resolved to host a summit to discuss way forward in the lingering  gubernatorial issue of the state in 2023.

The traditional ruler of Abavo kingdom, Obi Uche Irenuma, who briefed journalists after the meeting said:

“The issue of which zone should produce the 2023 governor was discussed but we resolved that the Asagba of Asaba should call for a one-day summit of the leadership of the Traditional Rulers’ Forum of the three senatorial districts in the state.

“The summit is to enable us traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts to discuss as brothers and formally agree on the zoning formula to avoid crisis.”

However, speaking to reporters at the end of the traditional rulers council’s meeting, the Orodje of Okpe explained that royal fathers were apolitical, adding that there was no basis for the convocation of such a summit.