By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma has advised the Southeast Traditional Rulers to take the problem of insecurity in their region seriously in every of their deliberations.

The Governor made the appeal while attending the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers Expanded Executive Council Meeting held at the Eze Imo Palace, Mbari Owerri, Imo State.

The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Cosmas Iwu, urged the monarchs to also take seriously the problem of absentee Royal Fathers who live outside their domain, creating a vacuum in leadership amidst internal crisis and general insecurity challenges that could have been handled by them and their President Generals.

The Governor emphasized that as the Chief Security Officers of their Autonomous Communities, they are bound by law and tradition to look into the problems of insecurity in their communities.

He said that the government on its part is doing a lot to check the surge in insecurity but noted that ?without the Royal Fathers playing their role efficiently and effectively nothing substantial will be achieved.?

The number one citizen of the state noted that the government had given them a sense of belonging in the fight against insecurity by involving them as members of the State Security Council and members of the Local Government Security Committee.

Furthermore, Governor Uzodinma advised the Traditional Rulers to work in synergy with their President Generals to improve the all-round security situation, saying that is a sure way to restore and ensure there is development. Hence ?no peace no development,? he said.

He further challenged the Royal Fathers to always come up with advice on how to better govern the states, ?so that Southeast will be the envy of other geo-political zones in the country.?

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers who is also Chairman Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Dr Emmanuel Okeke acknowledged that the meeting offers them the opportunity to come together and speak with one voice, to bring sanity to the administration of their states, the Southeast zone and the country in general.

Eze Okeke appreciated the Southeast Governor?s forum and its leadership and the National Legislature for the efforts they are making to secure additional States for the zone and the return of peace to Imo State in particular and the zone in general.