…Pledges Support For IJF
As 2019 general elections draw nearer, a Royal Father in Rivers State, HRM Eze (Amb) Uche Anointed Umejuru , Eze Okwu-Onu-Ka Oha 1 of Idu-Ogba has urged his fellow traditional rulers in the State to refrain from partisan politics in their own interest. According to Eze Umejuru, any attempt to involve in politics allows such traditional ruler to be conditioned to a four year tenure instead of the lifespan reign of the Royal Father.
Eze Umejuru stated this when the President of the Igbo Journalists Forum (IJF),Mr Isaac Mbah led a delegation of his members on a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt.
“As a traditional ruler, you don’t have to carry yourself to politicians or get involved In partisan politics, this will make the politicians to condition you to a tenure of four years, instead of your natural life time tenure as a royal father. So traditional rulers as custodians of their people and cultures should conduct themselves properly,” Umejuru said.
Commenting on the relationship between the multi-national companies operating in the Niger Delta and the host communities, Amb Umejuru said it is cordial. According to him, the companies are merely implementing the policies of their organizations. He agreed that at times what the multi-national companies earmarked for the communities do not get to the people, thereby breeding mistrust between the two parties.
“The relationship between the multi-national companies and the communities is cordial. The companies are just implementing their policies, what happens is that most times what the companies give to the communities don’t get to the people, so you can’t blame the companies for that,” Umejuru said.
On the recent flooding that ravaged some parts of Rivers State, especially the Orashi Region . The Royal Father described the incident as a natural phenomenon that predated his birth and as such should be seen and treated as that. According to him, attributing it to empting dam by Cameroon is neither here nor there.
Asked to comment on the call for restructuring of Nigeria, Eze Umejuru said he does not believe in restructuring. According to him, until the Local and State Governments stop going to the Federal Government for handouts, popularly referred to as allocation, nothing will work in the country. So until the local government and state do their bits, the country cannot move forward.
The Royal Father pledged support for the Igbo Journalists Forum as a media group and enjoined them to be steadfast in the quest to achieving their set objectives of promoting and projecting the Ndi-Igbo cause in the country.
Earlier in his speech, the President of IJF, Mr Isaac Mbah had told their host that they were in his office to solicit for his support towards the successful organization of their end of the year activities slated for 24thNovember,2018 in Port Harcourt. He equally used the opportunity to intimate the Eze of the primary vision and mission of IJF, which he said is to project the image of Igbo sons and daughters who have excelled in their chosen careers, as well as friends of the Igbo nation across the country.
The IJF President thanked the Traditional Ruler for the warm reception and prompt approval of the courtesy visit, inspite of his tight schedule .He prayed God to bless Eze Umejuru in all his endeavours.##
