Ooni, Pere of Gbaramatu harp on respect, recognition for traditional rulers

The Oni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeyi Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, have called for respect and recognition for traditional rulers across the country over peace-building efforts in nation-building.

Both traditional rulers made the call on Wednesday during a visit of the Ooni of Ife to the monarch of the Gbaramatu Kingdom at his royal palace at Oporoza in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Ooni lauded the Gbaramatu kingdom for its effort in safeguarding the critical economic national assets in its domain.

Our correspondent reports that the Ooni of Ife was at the Gbaramatu kingdom with two other monarchs and his traditional entourage on Wednesday evening.

In his opening remarks, the Ooni of Ife spoke extensively about the primordial relationship between the Ijaw nation and the Oduduwa people.

According to him, the Ijaw people are ubiquitous across Yoruba lands in Nigeria and the diaspora.

“We have a component of Ijaw people in Ife, Ondo, Lagos, and some parts of Ogun State.

“Wherever you see water bodies, you find the good people of Ijaw. Water is life. I am here to extend the fraternal relationship between you two.

“We tell our government that there is nothing as good as local emancipation. We saw the great things the Gbaramatu people have done,” the Ooni averred.

He further explained that the Gbaramatu Kingdom is located between two major terminals in the world (Excravos and Forcados), where the economy of Nigeria is domiciled; hence, the government of the country must realise the importance of local collaboration in nation-building.

Ooni Ogunwusi thanked the Gbaramatu monarch for doing a great job protecting the nation’s assets by involving the locals in the surveillance of the oil pipelines in the region.

“We are also here to extend our fraternal relationship between the people of Oduduwa Nation and your son’s and daughters. We are here to fraternise with you and also tell the government that there is nothing as good as working with the local people.

“We have seen the great things you have done in this kingdom by bringing back the natural habitat to the creeks, and we are very appreciative of all that you have been doing.

“We also want to appreciate you getting the locals involved in the surveillance of our nation’s assets,” the Ooni said.

He offered prayers for the Gbaramatu people, the kingdom, and the Niger Delta Region as a whole for peace to continue to reign for the sake of regional and national development.

Responding, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, said the visit was an epoch-making day because they have been longing for it.

He unequivocally averred that it was a great blessing for the Ooni of Ife to visit the ancient kingdom of Gbaramatu, affirming that the visit was a unique one.

The Gbaramatu monarch, however, lambasted Nigerian politicians for relegating the traditional institute to the background despite its efforts to engender peace among the people.

He related the story of the Ijaw nation as a bitter one, describing as ironical how the people feeding the nation languish in poverty and squalor.

“We feed the people of this country, but we have been oppressed. But that is not the issue. However, we are doing our best in our kingdom, extending our hands of fellowship to other kingdoms.

“The peace that we are enjoying today is made possible because of us. What you people are enjoying today, we worked for it.

“We know there are security agencies in Nigeria, but as the traditional rulers, we are ahead of them in peacebuilding.

“We are boldly saying this in front of the cameras because we know that this is Nigeria, and we are one. But on the other hand, are we living as brothers?

“For me, I will say that we are not. We are not because we have politicians who rule over the affairs of the country but don’t carry the traditional rulers along.

“I want to tell you that the country would have been more peaceful today. But they (politicians) have undermined, ignored, and abandoned us.

“We are nothing before them. But we are the ones playing the bigger role as far as Nigeria is concerned. We know our people, and we know how to make peace in our kingdoms,” the Gbaramatu monarch opined.

Meanwhile, one of the Gbaramatu chiefs and environmental activists, Chief Sheriff Mulade, while addressing journalists, itemised the challenges of underdevelopment in Ijaw areas.

He, therefore, urged the Ooni to join the call on the Federal Government to give special attention to the development of Gbaramatu and other riverine communities in the Niger Delta.

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