Diri, Okowa seek constitutional role for monarchs

Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, and his Delta State counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, have advocated for constitutionally defined roles for traditional rulers to ensure peace in the country.

The governors spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Wednesday during the South South Monarch Forum’s Extraordinary General Assembly with the theme: “Entrenching Grassroots Security and Peace in the South-South Region during and after the 2023 General Election”.

They lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his insistence on free and fair elections, saying the country is relying on him to match words with action and deliver a credible 2023 general election.

While advocating for a constitutional role for monarchs as custodians of culture, the Bayelsa State governor cautioned politicians against the use of youths for violence and called on all hands to be on deck to ensure a violence-free election.

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He said people of the South South region would continue to agitate for the restructuring of the country to enthrone justice and equity.

On his part, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said traditional rulers play a very important role as custodians of culture and should be empowered to play more active roles in ensuring peace in the country.

He also hailed the introduction of BVAS and wondered why some persons and political parties were against a technology that will promote credible elections and improve the image of Nigeria even in the international community.