Traditional rulers from Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions on Friday converged in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, for a high-level meeting hosted by the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, reaffirming the critical role of traditional institutions in fostering peace, security, and development.

The monarchs, alongside other stakeholders, called for sustained collaboration between governments and traditional institutions to build resilient and prosperous communities.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Linus Ntoh Mbah, expressed concern over the erosion of cultural values and rising communal conflicts, urging fellow royal fathers to remain steadfast as custodians of culture and promoters of unity.

Chairman of the South-South Monarchs Forum, Chidi Awuse, emphasised unity, cooperation, and support for constituted authorities, while advocating stronger regional integration between the South-East and South-South. He noted that collective action would yield greater results than isolated efforts.

Host Governor, Alex Otti, called for greater unity, justice, fairness, and collaboration among leaders across the two regions, stressing that collective effort remains the surest path to sustainable development.

Otti reminded traditional rulers of their enduring responsibility to uphold justice and fairness in their communities, noting that unlike political offices, their roles are lifelong.

The governor also dismissed claims of disunity among political leaders in the region, particularly within the South-East Governors’ Forum, explaining that differences in priorities are often based on local realities.

“Sometimes, people create differences that exist only in their imagination. We, as South-East governors, work together. However, the needs of each state may differ at any given time,” he said, adding that Abia’s development priorities are guided by pressing needs such as road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and education.

Earlier, the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, described the gathering as a convergence of wisdom, tradition, and collective responsibility.

He stressed that traditional institutions remain vital to grassroots governance, peace, and development, urging monarchs to deepen collaboration with government in tackling insecurity, youth unemployment, and other regional challenges. (Guardian)