By Precious Amadi
As Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on traditional rulers to take greater responsibility for maintaining peace and security in their communities, warning against actions capable of triggering political crises.
The governor said a peaceful electoral process was essential to protecting lives, preserving community relationships and sustaining development across the state.
Fubara made the call at the 126th, 127th and 128th combined meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, held at the council’s secretariat.
He urged traditional rulers to work towards ensuring peaceful campaigns and elections, stressing that stability must be maintained before, during and after the polls.
The governor also cautioned community leaders to advise their subjects against violence, inflammatory conduct and other activities capable of undermining peace during the electioneering period.
According to him, the welfare and security of Rivers people, particularly members of the traditional institution, remain a priority of his administration.
He further charged the monarchs to uphold fairness, equity and justice in their dealings with their subjects, describing traditional rulers as the tier of leadership closest to the grassroots.
Fubara noted that their influence and position within their communities placed them in a strategic position to promote understanding, resolve disputes and prevent disagreements from escalating into crises.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, called on governments at all levels to grant traditional rulers constitutional powers and clearly defined roles in the country’s governance structure.
He said greater recognition of the traditional institution would strengthen its capacity to contribute to governance and effectively administer affairs within their respective domains.
Worlu-Wodo also appealed to Governor Fubara to address the welfare needs of traditional rulers in the state, noting that improved support would enable them to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.
The meeting brought together key government officials and traditional rulers from the state’s 23 local government areas to deliberate on issues affecting the traditional institution and the development of their communities.
Those in attendance included the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sunny Ewule; the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown; elder statesmen and traditional rulers from across the state.
As the political atmosphere gradually builds towards the 2027 elections, the governor’s appeal places traditional rulers at the centre of efforts to preserve community peace, promote peaceful political participation and ensure that electoral competition does not undermine the safety and well-being of Rivers residents.
