Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday, announced that the multi-billion naira new civil service secretariat being built by his administration in Asaba is to be named after the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien.
Okowa, who announced this at the 30th coronation and 97th birth anniversary celebration of the Asaba traditional ruler held at his palace in Asaba, said the gesture was in recognition of the Asagba’s remarkable contributions to the promotion of peace.
He said the highly respected royal father also championed the cause of equity, which led to the emergence of an Anioma son as Govermor of the State.
The Governor said the state secretariat, sitting on 54,000 square metres of land, would be ready for inauguration in September, this year.
He noted that the reign of the Asagba had brought tremendous peace and sustainable development to Asaba and assured him that his administration would remain focused on the infrastructural transformation of the capital territory and other parts of the state.
Okowa said the drainage project in Asaba was on course, adding that the new Dennis Osadebe University, Asaba, would be transformed to meet international standard.
He advocated the introduction of structural roles for traditional rulers, federal and states’ laws in the area of peace-building and development.
“I want to rejoice with our royal majesty and his family and the entire people of Asaba as our father, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, turns 30 years on the throne and as he celebrates his 97th birth anniversary.
“We are proud of your reign as the Asagba of Asaba. I recall 1999 when we came into Asaba, looking back at that time and looking at what Asaba is today, we can all acknowledge that the reign of his Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba, has brought a lot of development to this community.
“We are proud of the fact that our people have been very peaceful in this state and today, you would realise that persons from all parts of Delta State are quickly settling in Asaba and even our brothers and sisters from across the Niger and other parts of the South East and many other places are beginning to settle in Asaba.
“It is because of the peace that we have provided for the people. I must use this opportunity to thank the entire poeple of Asaba for giving the people and the government of Delta State a very peaceful environment to truly operate,” he said.
The Governor said he listened to the lecture delivered by Prof. Epiphany Azinge, a chief in the Asagba’s palace, saying “I think he made a lot of sense and l think that the narrative out there is the need to create a structural role in governance for traditional rulers.
“I believe that there are certain roles that the traditional rulers play that you cannot take away from them. They play a very important role in community mobilisation which is good for governance and good for development.
“They also play a very important role in peace building which is good for our nation, moreso at this time that we find ourselves as a nation.
“If we are talking about security of our communities, the royal fathers are obviously in a better place to truly organise our structures in our various communities to provide the security architecture that works for our people.
“I believe that looking at all these, it is possible to truly structure a role that would enable the traditional rulers play a more effective and more inclusive role in governance that would be of interest to our people”.
Okowa added that the establishment of a National Council for Traditional Rulers would help protect them from interference of politicians and others who might want to kick them out of office against the wish of majority of their people.
While stressing the need for traditional rulers to be insulated from partisan politics, the Governor it congratulated the Asagba on his coronation and birth anniversary celebrations, and urged him to use the remaining days of his life for service to God and humanity.
In a lecture entitled “Imperative for Constitutional Roles for Traditional Rulers,” the Okilolo of Asaba and President – General of Asaba Development Union (ADU) worldwide, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), noted that the traditional institution exerted considerable influence and authority from pre-colonial to post-independence era of the country.
He observed that the 1999 Constitution of the country abrogated all the functions of traditional rulers in Nigeria.
Prof Azinge, therefore, advocated that the traditional institution should be accommodated as the fourth tier of government to enable it contribute meaningfully to national development, stressing that traditional rulers should be insulated from politics.
In his remarks shortly after cutting his 30th coronation and 97th birth anniversary cake, Obi Chike Edozie expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for the monumental infrastructural growth and development of the state and for being part of his anniversary celebration.
The royal father also thanked other top government functionaries, captains of industry and traditional rulers who were at his palace to felicitate with him and called for constitutional roles for the traditional institution in the country.
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