Delta Governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, charged traditional rulers in the country to be ambassadors of tourism promotion as custodians of culture and traditions of their respective communities.
He gave the charge in Asaba while inaugurating the newly-reconstituted Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council.
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The governor urged the traditional rulers to play an active role in marketing Delta State’s tourism potential to the world, saying that as custodians of the culture and tradition of the people, royal fathers should be at the forefront of the state government’s tourism development campaign.
“Today’s event is particularly profound as we renew the machinery through which government and royal fathers cross-fertilize ideas on various issues of mutual interest for the good and well-being of both the State, its people and the country in general.
“I sincerely congratulate the Chairman and members of the Council on their well-deserved appointments.
“The traditional institution is the bedrock of our cultural mores, tradition and unity. I commend the Council for their dedication to the preservation of our culture and traditions,” the governor stated.
He congratulated the Chairman and members of the council on their appointments and urged them to continue to maintain peace in their domains to enable their communities to benefit from the government’s projects and programmes.
“Regardless of the advent of modernity, the traditional institution remains an important rallying point for the generality of our people. It has been serving as a veritable vehicle for the dissemination of government policies, programmes and mobilisation of the populace.
“By law, the council is to advise the governor on chieftaincy matters and any other matter of public policy concerning traditional rulers or any other class of chiefs.
“It is also to advise the governor on matters relating to customary laws or cultural affairs, inter-communal relations and maintenance of public order in the state,” he added.
Okowa disclosed that his administration had immense regard for traditional rulers in the state, and assured that he would always welcome advice from them to ensure social harmony and peaceful co-existence.
“This new council is coming at a time of momentous changes in the progress and development of the State, especially with the commitment of this administration to ensure that every community felt government’s presence.
“There is no doubt that the traditional institution is the fourth tier of government owing to its responsibility at the grassroots level.
“Peace and security remain the most important ingredient for development in the state and you all have been playing important roles in this regard.
“I, therefore, charge our traditional rulers to ensure that they maintain peace and order in their respective communities as they have always done and to study the policies of the administration and key into it to enable their various communities benefit from them”
He commended the outgoing chairman for his contributions and urged his successor to always tap from the wisdom and wealth of experience of the past chairman.
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