By Inyali Peter
The lasting solution to security challenges and restiveness in Nigeria lies in the hands of monarchs hence the need for Government to interface with traditional institutions frequently says Odey Ochicha, the Cross River State All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 general elections.
“The peace and stability of this country is a responsibility of all leaders therefore, governments at all levels should constantly interface with the royal fathers to fashion out ways to amicably address all the issues of concern” Ochicha said in a statement congratulating the recently crowned Oba Ewuare II of Benin kingdom and issued in Calabar.
He expressed concern over agitations for the break up of Nigeria and called on the new Oba to reach out to other Monarchs in the South South region to see to the success of the federal government’s dialogue with militants from the zone.
“I have stated it before and I will state it again to remind leaders at all levels that a patriotic citizen does not support government because he likes the face, party or religion of the leader, but because he loves his people and country. We must all see the development of Nigeria as a collective responsibility.
“The production rate of crude oil which is the mainstay of our economy has dropped below half of what we used to produce because of the restiveness in the oil producing states. As a prominent leader of the region, I want to urge the Oba to reach out to other traditional leaders from the region to see how they can fast track the ongoing dialogue between the federal government and militants. The process should not be left to politicians alone” Ochicha said.
Felicitating with the Oba whom he described as sincere and straightforward, Ochicha said that: “I want to congratulate the new Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, my very good friend whom I have known for years. He is an honest and straightforward leader who is never economical with the truth, he presents things the way they are”.
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