The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON has said that Traditional Rulers welcome the call for re-structuring of Nigeria not for revenue sharing alone but more importantly to reflect and recognize the tremendous contributions of indigenous institutions.
The Uvwie Monarch, who is also the Chairman, Delta Chapter of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) said in a welcome address at the 27th National Conference of the association at Asaba, Delta state that the historic role of Traditional Rulers and institution must be emphasized.
“The Roles of Traditional Institutions and Traditional Rulers and all they stand for have been relegated to the background in matters pertaining to the Government and economic development of the Nation.
“We have forgotten that this INSTITUTIONS produced the economy that built EMPIRES before the advent of colonialism and what the colonialists admired and adopted in the INDIRECT RULE ERA prior the AMALGAMATION.
“We seem to feign ignorance that in this colonial indirect rule system TRADITIONAL RULERS assisted the Government in maintenance of law and order, among other ROLES. There are records that we had warrant chiefs who helped to maintain peace and affordable justice in the past in their localities or communities.
“These powers were removed at Independence even though our constitutional draftsmen have continued to lift the colonial clauses, out of context, from one amended constitution to another.
“As if the above relegation is not enough, the entire role was completely eliminated from the 2009 constitution”
Below is the full text of the welcome address:
A WELCOME ADDRESS BY HRM (DR.) EMMANUEL EKEMEJEWA SIDESO, ABE 1, JP, OON, OVIE OF UVWIE KINGDOM AS THE CHAIRMAN, DELTA STATE CHAPTER OF TRADITIONAL RULERS OF OIL MINERALS PRODUCING COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA (TROMPCON) DURING THE 27TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF TROMPCON HOLDEN AT ASABA, DELTA STATE ON 26TH MAY 2021.
PROTOCOLS!!!
- His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Executive Governor of Delta State;
- His Excellency, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State;
- Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly;
- Hon. Justice Marshal Umukoro, The Chief Judge of Delta State;
- HRM Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, OON, The Obi of Owa
Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council
- HRM Maj. Gen. Felix Emuojakpuero, Oruehre 1, Orodje of Okpe, CFR, mni, 1st Vice Chairman
- HRM King Luke VIII Pere of Akugbene Mein, 2nd Vice Chairman;
- HRM Owong (Dr) Effiong Bassey Archianga, JP, FCE, National President, TROMPCON
- All Royal Majesties and Highness here present
- Members of National and State Assembly here present
- Members of the Press
- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
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WELCOME
We are delighted to welcome you all to this 27th National Conference of TROMPCON, on behalf of the Delta State chapter.We especially welcome the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr. IfeanyiArthur Okowa and his entourage to declare open this conference. In the same vein, I particularly welcome the conference delegates made up of Traditional Rulers from the Oil Producing Communities of Niger Delta States of Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta,Edo Imo, Ondo and Rivers. Once again, we welcome you all to Delta State – the Big Heart; finger of love; and prosperity for all. We must not fail to thank God for journey mercies for those who came from afar and within. Please, relax and have a taste of our hospitality in Asaba, Delta State.
- We consider this conference very significant because of the well-chosen thematic focus, which seeks an answer to a question – The Relationship Between The Oil And Gas Producing Communities And The International Oil Companies Operating In Niger Delta Areas. What Impact Has It Made On The People?We have consulted an International Scholar in the person of Prof. Joseph O. Abugu (SAN) to speak to us on the THEME and provoke our minds for discussion.
We thank God for the great blessings of oil wells and several other
natural resources found in our various communities, but we must acknowledge that it has been worrisome that the much anticipatedsocio-economic advantages derivable from these uncommon gifts of God to us, have eluded our people for so long.
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Our energetic and brilliant youths are wasting and most of our rural folks are incredibly impoverished. Massive degradation of lands and waters in our places by oil spillage and unprecedented pollution, have made agriculture which used to be our fore-fathers way of life, a thing of the past.
Besides, infrastructure development in Niger Delta leaves much to be desired. Good roads, standard schools, quality and affordable healthcare services and youth empowerment are just not adequate and befitting.
Aware that oil revenue from our communities constitute the main source of funds for the Federal Government, we are taken aback at the sorry state of life among our people, inspite of all these decades of bearing the burden of Nigeria.
As traditional rulers and burden bearers in our various communities, we have a responsibility to always lead from the front in the battle to emancipate our people from the clutches of deliberate deprivation and avoidable but seemingly endless impoverishment.
One of the greatest crimes against humanity is the silence of the elites in matters that are visibly hurting the people, especially, the less privileged, the youth and the women.
TROMPCON must arise to justify her purpose of existence. We need an action-oriented leadership, a dynamic and responsive leadership, that will set a popular agenda and pursue it with verve and vivacity.
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Without mincing words, we think the time has come when big oil explorers in our communities and the Federal Government should resolve to give Niger Delta communities the benefits they deserve, in all ramifications, for their great sacrifice and commitment to the development of Nigeria.
We love Nigeria but we want Nigeria to reciprocate this love of ours and be fair to us in the interest of this generation and posterity.
We cannot continue to bemoan the general insecurity in our land without taking decisive steps to engage the youth in meaningful entrepreneurial programmes under the auspices of the big oil explorers in our communities.
As for the general heightening insecurity in Nigeria, we all know that constitutional amendment is inevitable; to address all the imbalances that led to the messy imbroglio and senseless killings in virtually every where in the country. The National Assemble should as a matter of urgency arise and save Nigeria.
It is sad and very unfortunate that terrorist groups and armed bandits have continued to kill tens of thousands of people including security personnel, and have caused millions of people to become internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their own country.
We need to give our security personnel and the youth all the support necessary to protect our land from these horrible invaders.
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- 3. ABOUT TROMPCON
TROMPCON was formed about 30 years ago by the Traditional Rulers of the Oil MineralsProducing Communities of the Niger Delta States of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers State. The broad objectives is to galvanize the people of the Niger Delta States to benefit from their God given resources – Oil because it was obvious that the Niger Delta State have become the goose that lays the golden eggs, that the Nigeria nation must kill. The specific aims and objectives of TROMPCON are:
- To create awareness and enlightenment among Nigerians on the need to manage wealth derived from Oil and Gas in Nigeria with focus on the development of the oil and Gas communities in Nigeria.
- To work together for progress, empowerment, Development, Peace, harmony and protection of the right of all mineral and gas producing communities in Nigeria.
- To fight and correct injustice perpetrated against the oil and Gas producing Areas.
- To ensure that agencies established by Government for development of Oil and Gas producing communities are adequately and promptly funded by the Government and such funds are utilized judiciously for the development of
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the communities to ameliorate the effect of developmental degradation suffered in these Areas.
- To promote PEACE and HARMONY in their various communities and have a united or common front to dialogue with the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, their Agencies or oil COMPANIES.
- To ensure proper remediation on any community polluted by crude oil or gas emission in the course of exploration or operation by ANY COMPANY.
- To organize seminars and hold conferences in order to articulate and discuss matters of National interest and give fatherly advice whenever necessary and provided that ATROMPCON shall not overtly be involved in PARTISAN POLITICS.
- To ensure that the interest of Traditional Rulers in Oil and Gas producing Areas are protected and enhanced by attracting from Government Welfare packages for TRADITIONAL RULERS.
- To demand for provision of employment and training of YOUTHS, Scholarships, Oil Blocks, contract awards etc to deserving persons from oil and Gas minerals producing communities from Government, Government Agencies, and Oil companies as may be applicable and feasible.
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- To achieve the Aims and objectives of this Association or forum, members must exhibit and show good example of Transparency, honesty and trust at all time to earn the respect as a Traditional Ruler.
- THE ROLES OF TRADITIONAL RULERS/INSTITUTION
The roles of Traditional Rulers and/or institution must be emphasized. Traditional Institution has an historic role.
The Roles of Traditional Institutions and Traditional Rulers and all they stand for have been relegated to the background in matters pertaining to the Government and economic development of the Nation. We have forgotten that this INSTITUTIONS produced the economy that built EMPIRES before the advent of colonialism and what the colonialists admired and adopted in the INDIRECT RULE ERA prior the AMALGAMATION. We seem to feign ignorance that in this colonial indirect rule system TRADITIONAL RULERS assisted the Government in maintenance of law and order, among other ROLES. There are records that we had warrant chiefs who helped to maintain peace and affordable justice in the past in their localities or communities. These powers were removed at Independence even though our constitutional draftsmen have continued to lift the colonial clauses, out of context, from one amended constitution to another.
As if the above relegation is not enough, the entire role was completely eliminated from the 2009 constitution. The Traditional Rulers welcome the call for re-structuring of Nigeria not for revenue sharing alone but more importantly to reflect and recognize the tremendous contributions of indigenous institutions
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in the Governance and development of their great nation i.e from the very foundation of the house to the grassroots of the local communities.
- APPRECIATION:
We are indebted to our GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY DIST. SEN. DR. IFEANYI ARTHUR OKOWA for all the assistance he gave to us for the 27th National Conference to be held today. His Excellency has always shown and demonstrated to us great respect and care of our welfare in the state collectively or individually. We seize this opportunity again to express our profound gratitude for the top class secretariat complex he built for us. No doubt our Excellency, your name is written in Gold in the administration of Great DELTA STATE.
We wish all our colleagues a very fruitful, rewarding and peaceful conference and journey mercies when you return to your communities.
Long Live TROMPCON!
Long Live Delta State!!
Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON
Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom
Chairman, TROMPCON, Delta State Chapte
