Role of Royal Fathers in Ensuring Sustainable Peace in the Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, a region long plagued by unrest due to environmental degradation, economic inequality, and political exclusion, is witnessing a shift towards sustainable peace through enhanced collaboration. Central to this transformation is the renewed involvement of royal fathers—traditional rulers with deep cultural and social influence—who are spearheading efforts to foster dialogue, resolve conflicts, and promote development. By working closely with government agencies, oil companies, and local communities, these royal fathers are paving the way for a more harmonious future in the Niger Delta, Sunday Okobi writes
Though the Niger Delta region is a land of immense natural beauty with rich cultural heritage among others, beneath its picturesque surface, the region has for a long time been plagued by conflict, poverty, and underdevelopment.
For decades, the region has been embroiled in a cycle of violence, as communities are embroiled in endless faceoff with government forces and multinational oil companies over issues of resource control, environmental degradation, and economic marginalisation.
However, in recent years, a new era of cooperation has begun to emerge in the region as traditional rulers, and communities, especially those long marginalised and excluded from decision-making processes, are now speaking up and taking the centre stage in efforts to promote sustainable peace and development in their communities.
At the heart of this new era of cooperation is the Traditional Rulers of Oil and Mineral Producing Communities of Niger Delta (TROMPCON), a regional organisation that brings together traditional rulers from across the Niger Delta area.
Through TROMPCON, traditional rulers seek to work together to promote peace, development, and good governance in their communities.
Recently, at different trainings on ‘Emerging Trends in Rural Governance’ organised by the NDDC in various states of the region, the monarchs noted that one of the key challenges facing their institution is the lack of recognition and empowerment by government agencies and multinational oil companies.
They stated that for decades, these external actors have dominated decision-making processes in the region, often ignoring the needs and concerns of local communities.
Through TROMPCON, the traditional rulers are now demanding greater recognition and empowerment. They are calling on government agencies and multinational oil companies to work with them as equal partners, rather than treating them as mere spectators.
As part of this effort, TROMPCON has been working with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to promote sustainable peace and development in the region. The NDDC, as an interventionist agency, which was established in 2000, is a federal government agency responsible for promoting economic development and social welfare in the Niger Delta region.
In its partnership with TROMPCON, the NDDC works to empower traditional rulers and local communities to take ownership of peace building initiatives. This involves providing training and capacity-building programmes for traditional rulers, as well as supporting community-led development projects.
One of the key areas of focus for TROMPCON and the NDDC is the promotion of sustainable peace and security in the Niger Delta. This involves working with traditional rulers and local communities to identify and address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
It also involves supporting community-led peace building initiatives, such as mediation and conflict resolution programmes. These programmes are designed to help communities resolve disputes and conflicts peacefully, without resorting to violence.
In addition to promoting sustainable peace and security, TROMPCON and the NDDC are also working to support economic development and social welfare in the Niger Delta. This involves supporting community-led development projects, such as agriculture and infrastructure development programmes.
It also involves providing training and capacity-building programmes for traditional rulers and local communities, to help them develop the skills and knowledge needed to promote economic development and social welfare.
Thus, one of the key initiatives driving this effort is a series of trainings held in the nine states covered by the NDDC.
These trainings, organised by the NDDC in partnership with local organisations, were aimed at equipping traditional rulers with the knowledge and skills needed to promote peace, development, and good governance in their communities.
The trainings have been well-received by the monarchs, who welcomed the opportunity to learn new skills and share their experiences with one another. There covered a range of topics, including emerging trends in rural governance, conflict management, and community development.
The initiative is championed by the NDDC under the leadership of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, in partnership with Peace and Development Projects (PEDEP), Jobelle Crescent Global Services, Wealthline Nigeria Limited, FUNSGLO Resource Limited and Softlife Consult held in five locations of the Niger Delta regions with the theme: ‘Emerging Trends in Rural Governance’. The engagement offered the opportunity for the traditional rulers to brainstorm on contemporary issues inhibiting peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region and the way forward.
The lead consultant for the initiative, who is the Director of PEDEP, Francis Abayomi, noted that the NDDC is concerned about enhancing peace and security and fostering inclusive engagement of stakeholders in the local communities to promote ownership of project initiatives towards accelerating sustainable development in the region. According to him, peace and security, is vital to sustainable development which are the cardinal mandate of the commission.
Across the five locations of the engagement: Port Harcourt (Rivers and Bayelsa States); Uyo (Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers States; Warri (Delta and Edo States); Owerri (Imo and Abia States) and Igbokoda in Ondo State, the monarchs unanimously identified lack of constitutional roles for traditional rulers as a major setback to peaceful and inclusive community governance.
In Warri, Delta State, traditional rulers from Edo and Delta States blamed the challenges of peaceful and inclusive governance in local community on lack of constitutional roles. The Chairman of TROMPCON, Delta State, who is the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, Isoko North Local Government Area, HRM Anthony Ogbogbo Ibuka 1, said the programme availed them opportunities to brainstorm on contemporary issues inhibiting development in the Niger Delta region, adding that through the discourse they were able to identify and highlight notable challenges of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), as it affects the host communities.
Identifying some challenges confronting TROMPCON, Ogbogbo, said: “The absence of constitutional roles for traditional rulers and power to back up responsibility constitute hindrance. We, the traditional rulers are ready to work, but we are frustrated and hampered by lack of constitutional provisions.
“Government should recognise the roles of traditional rulers and ensure operational guidelines to that effect to enable them contribute their quota more for effective governance. In this regard, advocacy to integrate traditional rulers should be sustained and vigorously pursued. Lack of Constitutional roles for traditional rulers has been hampering our contributions. It brings us downward.”
In Rivers State, the monarchs noted that transparency and collaboration between oil multinationals, government agencies and local communities are the antidotes to peace and development in the region.
The traditional ruler of Kerike Kingdom in Rivers State, Air Commodore Tansiki Ogube (rtd), said the lack of transparency and collaboration has led to conflicts in the region.
He lamented that the oil companies are not dealing with the traditional rulers, but with people perceived to be violent, especially those who do not have interest in the development of the communities.
The monarch emphasised that the traditional rulers are not against development, insisting they should be carried along in the decision-making process.
On his part, the TROMPCOM Chairman in Bayelsa State, Dr. Toboro Andy Godwill, emphasised that collaboration is key to fostering peace in the region.
He noted that the traditional institution and the government must work together to ensure that developmental projects are implemented without hoarding information.
According to him, “Today’s leadership is based on development, and development should be enhanced at all levels of society, including the local communities. If those who are providing development in the community are open-minded, as we are doing here, there will be collaboration between the traditional institution and the government.”
On their part, the traditional rulers from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States called on the NDDC to address the longstanding issues hindering the completion of the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway.
The Paramount Ruler of Eket Local Council and Akwa IbomTROMPCON Chairman, HRM Etim Charles Abia, expressed deep concern over the stalled project. Abia also encouraged the NDDC to support state governments by procuring modern farming equipment to boost agricultural productivity in the region. Highlighting the fertile lands on the Calabar-Itu Road, he suggested that Cross River State could produce sufficient rice to exceed national consumption if supported with the necessary tools.
Meanwhile, resource persons across the five locations emphasised the need to address the challenge of insecurity and violent conflicts which pose significant challenges to development in the region.
They emphasised that traditional rulers are key to community development, adding: “Conflicts and crises in society are evolving daily, and it is important to strategise and develop capacity to handle these issues. Visionary leadership by traditional rulers was reiterated as driving force for enduring peace, security, and development initiatives.”
The Odogun of Igbekebo Kingdom, Ondo State, Oba BamideleDabo, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, during the workshop held at Igbokoda, the headquarters of the Ilaje Local Government Area, said it was time to stop the abandonment of projects of general importance for the economic prosperity of residents.
He said many projects of the NDDC in various communities have been abandoned by the contractors due to a lack of proper supervision.
“We urge the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to give more recognition to traditional rulers in oil-producing areas of the state for mutual relationships between the host communities and the agency.
“There is a need for urgent completion of the long overdue Sabomi-Igbotu road and other abandoned projects in the region. The NDDC should also embark on capacity building and infrastructural development,” he said.
In Owerri, where traditional rulers from Imo and Abia States were hosted, the traditional ruler of Mgbirichi/Agbakuru in Ohaji/Egbema LGA and former National Chairman of TROMPCON, Eze Akawueze Raphael Ikegwuruka, expressed sadness that in most cases, their opinions are not given adequate attention, adding: “Empower these people you depend so much on to provide peace and security. Things will change.”
Also, another resource person, Dr. Eghaire Benson, urged the traditional rulers of the oil communities to enthrone peace, security and development in their domain through the management of information at their disposal.
In two separate presentations: ‘Fostering sustainable peace in Nigeria Delta communities: Leveraging peace building skills of traditional rulers’, by Dr. Evelyn Ijeoma Orji, and ‘Organising critical community stakeholders for partnership and governance: How traditional rulers in the Niger Delta can drive the process’, by Dr. Carol Bichene Ebuta, the resource persons lamented the frequency of communal conflicts and lack of local mechanisms to address them. They advised the monarchs to jettison the “Not my Child Syndrome,” which propagates “I don’t care” attitude. Ebuta urged the traditional rulers to capitalise on trust and moral authority.
In the meantime, Stanley Okereke, a Climatologist and Peace Advocate, called on all stakeholders, especially the government, oil and gas companies and others to work together in synergy to avoid retrogressive development. Okereke emphasised the need for traditional rulers to utilise their indigenous knowledge as local content into peace initiatives in the Niger Delta region, noting that the monarchs have key roles to play in the narratives towards attaining and sustaining peaceful co-existence.
According to Okereke: “If the traditional rulers are playing their roles effectively and efficiently, then the issue of violent conflicts will actually be a thing of the past. The way of managing conflict or preventing conflict will help in ensuring sustainable development in the Niger Delta region, as any development without sustainability is a waste of resources.
“Consequently, we need to develop a framework that will ensure that the traditional rulers are integrated into the system for managing peace and conflict in the region with a view to putting in place sustainable peace in the entire Niger Delta region.”
Another resource person, who is the former Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor, Eni Akinsola, solicited more synergy between community stakeholders in the oil-rich region and the commission. Akinsola urged traditional rulers to foster peace and security in their communities so as to enhance enabling environments for the provisions of projects for sustainable development. Akinsola urged the monarchs to always identify pressing issues and needs in their communities for the attention of both the government and the NDDC.
One of the trainers, Pastor Benson Eghaire, emphasised the importance of traditional rulers in promoting peace and development in their communities.
According to him, “Traditional rulers are key to community peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
“We want to collaborate with all of you in handling the resources in your communities for sustainable development.”
