The Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria(TROMPCON) has called on communities in the Niger Delta region to unite and speak with one voice for the growth and development of the area.
The TROMPCON national chairman, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and the outgoing national chairman, HRM Owong Dr. Effiong Bassey Archianga who spoke separately during the handing over ceremony to the new TROMPCON national executive council and inaugural meeting at the national secretariat in Port Harcourt last Tuesday 13th July, 2021 stressed the need to reposition the association.
HRM Mujakperuo in his speech said, “I wish to state here that we have all accepted a responsibility to reposition TROMPCON with the aim of promoting a common goal as the custodians of our cultures and traditions and our God’s given wealth.
“It behoves on us all therefore to be prepared to offer our individual and collective efforts to engender growth and development of the region.”
“May I implore all of us to work in unison to bring pressure to bear on the oil exploring and exploiting companies in the region to collaborate with TROMPCON for a better deal for our people. We must synergize with the interventionist agency, the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to ensure rapid and sustainable development of the region
He said following his interaction with both the National and State Chapter of HOSTCON, one of the foot soldiers in the region’s struggle, he had observed serious rivalry at the national level and they had appealed to TROMPCON to intervene.
In a valedictory speech, the outgoing national chairman, HRM Archianga thanked the founding fathers of the association and said it was the responsibility of national executive council to keep the flag flying to actualize their dreams of greater Niger Delta region
He opined that for the organization to operate properly there must be a functional constitution and the constitution should be reviewed periodically in tune with prevailing realties. He recommended the full implementation of the amended 2017 TROMPCON constitution particularly on the tenure-ship of the national chairman from 2 years to 3 years to ensure sufficient time for effective planning and efficient execution of plans.
The outgoing chairman said the task before the association was enormous and there was need for more committed leaders in TROMPCON to accomplish the task of rapid development. He said this could only be feasible where there was loyalty and cooperation.
He said for the first time in the history of TROMPCON, he would hand over to the new National Executive the sum of four hundred and eighty-eight thousand(N488,000) only in the association’s account. He added that this would save the new national chairman the stress of opening a new bank account as he did in 2017.
The meeting was attended by all the state chairmen and members of the National Exco.
