The Delta State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Senior Policy Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, has appealed to traditional rulers in the state to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Oborevwori administration.
Funkekeme made the appeal on Wednesday while addressing the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers in Asaba during an engagement aimed at explaining the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors was established to communicate the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration to Nigerians at the grassroots and provide clearer understanding of their objectives and expected benefits.
The Senior Policy Adviser said traditional rulers had a critical role to play in the process, describing them as custodians of the culture, traditions and wisdom of their respective communities.
According to him, the organisation had taken its sensitisation campaign to the 25 local government areas of Delta State, engaging traditional institutions, community leaders, professional bodies, youths, women and other stakeholders. Recent reports also confirm that the group has been conducting grassroots engagements across all 25 LGAs.
Funkekeme highlighted some of the Federal Government’s reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, student-loan initiatives and moves toward greater participation of states in addressing security challenges.
He said the purpose of the engagement was to ensure that citizens understood the rationale behind the reforms and their implications for the country.
He also spoke on the development initiatives of the Oborevwori administration, stressing that the governor’s alignment with the Federal Government was intended, among other things, to strengthen the relationship between Delta and the centre and expand opportunities for development.
Funkekeme had previously explained that the governor’s movement to the APC was driven by the desire to align the state with the Federal Government and maximise development opportunities.
He urged the traditional rulers to continue supporting programmes that promote peace, stability and development, while stressing the importance of their voices in fostering understanding between government and the people.
Responding, the First Vice Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and Pere of Akugbene-Mein, HRM Pere S.P. Luke Kalanama VIII, acknowledged the council’s cordial relationship with the state government and said traditional rulers had a responsibility to support policies that promoted the welfare of their subjects.
The monarch, however, used the occasion to draw attention to the deplorable condition of some federal roads in the state, particularly roads linking communities in the riverine and oil-producing areas.
He appealed to President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in the affected roads, warning that continued deterioration could further hamper movement, economic activities and the wellbeing of residents.
Kalanama said while the traditional institution would support government initiatives, such support should also be accompanied by responsiveness to legitimate concerns raised by the people.
He commended the engagement with the traditional council and urged government representatives to sustain consultations with traditional institutions, saying such engagements would help government better understand challenges confronting communities.
The monarch also called for greater attention to infrastructure and other basic needs of the people, stressing that development policies should translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
The engagement ended with calls for continued collaboration among the traditional institution, state and federal governments in addressing developmental challenges and promoting peace and stability across Delta State.
