The felicitations, cheers, toasts and congratulations from both the small and mighty that greeted the new appointment show the great importance attached to the Royal Fathers’ Council as a veritable vehicle for the promotion of our people’s culture not only as an expression of aesthetics, values, philosophies, beliefs, customs, tradition, and history but also as a factor for economic growth, socio-political development, peace, understanding, harmony, and co-operation among ethnic nationalities.

The jubilation and ovation that the appointment educed across the length and breadth of the state also show that the people are as certain as the rising of the morning sun that the new chairman, Oba Chukumela Nnam Obi II will provide the council with a dynamic, committed, and unique leadership.

But why this great expectation? The Oba’s long pedigree speaks for itself. Between 1972 and 1979, he was the chairman, Rivers State Conference of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs. He was a member and Nigerian representative at the International Committee on Chieftaincy and Royalty for FESTAC held in 1977. From 1980 to 1984 he served as First Pro-chancellor and chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Technology, Owerri and 1992-94, he was the Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure. He has also been chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers; National President, Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON); member, vision 2010; member, National Council for Nigerian Vision (NCNV); and member, National Political Reform Conference (NPRC).

The monarch is an Officer of the order of the Niger (OON); a knight Grand Commander of the Mystical Order of St. Peter (Kt G.C); a fellow, Institute of Business Managers and Administrators of Nigeria; fellow, Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku; and a justice of the Peace. He is also a recipient of several other awards including Doctor of letters (D. Lit). Doctor of Technology (D. Tech) and Doctor of Science (D. Sc).

Yes, at 65 (come November 20, 2007) the new chairman has bestrode the Nigerian nation and the international community like a colossus. And he has the vision, passion and a formidable background to fly the flag of the royal fathers’ council very high.

But the royal fathers, noble men of wisdom, truth and love, are expected to decide their priorities in the coming days. As the former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, while addressing the “Council of Elders” floated by the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela said: “my prayer is that the great potential of the elders might be realised through sound judgment and through dedication and courage”. As royal fathers, the traditional rulers are guardians of their people’s dreams; they are embodiments of their people’s aspirations. Therefore, the dreams and aspirations of their people are expected to be embedded in their decisions and advice to government.

So what are these dreams and aspirations? To me, they are basically peace, security and a better life. Thus the first challenge of the council is to ensure that every traditional ruler brings to the council good news of peace, security and good life in his domain.

This calls for the involvement of the royal fathers in the security arrangements of the state, the community relations activities of the companies operating in their areas, the social services and infrastructural development plans of government, and in the management and control of the resources found in their domain. That will be the first step towards giving the various communities a sense of belonging in the affairs of government and companies and access to resources as well as making security everybody’s business in the state. As observed by the environmental activist, Oronto Douglas at a colloquium organised by Newswatch Communications Limited penultimate month: “it is not about government establishing industry. The people of Niger Delta do not believe that it is government that would establish industry for them. It is the communities and people that should be empowered to establish these industries”.

It is the empowerment of the communities and the people that will secure the means for obtaining a better life, whose components include increased availability of basic life-sustaining goods such as food, shelter, clothing, health and protection to all members of the society, raised levels of living, provision of more jobs, better education and more attention to cultural and humanistic values, and expansion of the range of economic and social choice to individuals in the areas.

Even the community policing being planned for the Niger Delta can only be effective by direct involvement of traditional rulers in the scheme and the enhancement of individual and group esteem which generates a sense of worth and respect for the people.

As governor Celestine Omehia and the people of Rivers State expect unfailing boom in ideas and wise counsel from the Royal Fathers’ Council for the development of the state, I wish to congratulate the new chairman, Sir, Chukumela Nnam Obi II for the appointment well-deserved.