Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, on Monday inaugurated the 8th Council of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and urged them on security of lives and property at their various communities.

Inaugurating the royal fathers at the House of Chiefs Chamber of the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, Enugu, Mr Mbah said the functions of the traditional institution were beyond custodians of culture and tradition.

He explained that traditional rulers fostered peace and unity as well as serving as the eyes and ears of the government.

“This is important so that when we talk about security challenges we in communities, we expect to work with you in partnership to address them,” he said.

The governor also urged the monarchs to work closely with the government and their subjects and to serve as agents of positive change through effective communication of government’s policies and programmes and their well-being.

Highlighting some of the impactful projects the administration was executing across communities in the state, Mr Mbah explained that the government was taking deliberate steps to ensure that no child of learning age was denied quality education.

This, he said, was made possible through the building of Smart Green Schools across the 260 electoral wards, adding that education, training of youths on skills acquisition and human capacity building would serve as the greatest weapons against insecurity.

He stressed that the robust programmes of the administration would be difficult to accomplish if traditional rulers continued to live outside their communities since they were the eyes and ears of the government who had roles to play in community development.

Congratulating the new council, the state Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Okey Ogbodo, explained that the process leading to the selection of the council was based on fidelity, integrity and commitment to the robust development programmes of the government to the people.

He said the criteria were in line with section 3(1) of the state traditional rulers’ law.

Reacting, the Chairman of the council, HRH Samuel Asadu, pledged not to disappoint the state, promising that the ryal fathers would continue to ensure the success of the administration.

Mr Asadu described the governor as an “agent of positive change” whose landmark achievements cut across communities, noting that the first state-financed project in the history of their community was instituted by the Mbah administration.

He stated, “The governor said he would provide water in Enugu within 180 days, and he made it happen. He talked about roads, and you can see it happening everywhere. He talked about smart schools. I am very honoured that, that was the first time my town received anything from the government.’’

(NAN)