The Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has elected Orodje Okpe, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd) as national chairman.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reporter Orodje Mujakperuo was elected national chairman of TROMPCON on Wednesday following the dissolution of the former national executive body of the association.
TROMPCON dissolved it’s former executive body at the end of its 27th national conference held at Asaba, Delta State as majority of the members resigned for overstaying in office.
The national conference of TROMPCON was attended by traditional rulers from six of the nine member States of the Association, namely Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.
Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Edo States were not present but sent apologies.
Speaking after the conference, Mujakperuo promised to carry all the States chairmen along and ensure that TROMPCON is repositioned to stand for the aims and objectives of its founding fathers.
The Okpe monarch also appealed to the outgoing national executive body of TROMPCON to cooperative with him to achieve the objectives of the association.
Also elected at the conference included HRM Obafemi Ogbaro, the former National Secretary, who was elected first deputy National Chairman; HRM Eze I. O. Asor, National Secretary; Ovie of Ozoro, HRM Ovietobore Anthony Ogbogbo was elected publicity secretary.
They were sworn in by HRM Ayemi Botu, a board of trustee member and a former National Chairman.
Meanwhile, TROMPCON has called for the restoration of a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the governance architecture of Nigeria.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the national conference, TROMPCON also called for the passage of an all encompassing Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
The communiqué issued at the end of TROMPCON’s national conference reads below:
The 27th Conference of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) held at the Delta State Event Centre Asaba, on Wednesday 26th May 2021 with the theme: The Relationship between the Oil Producing Communities and the International Oil Companies operating in Niger Delta Area: What impact has it made on the People?
The Conference was declared open by H.E.the Executive Governor of Delta State, Sen. (Dr.) IfeanyiOkowa, who was ably represented by his Deputy, Barrister (Dcn.) KingsleyOtuaro.
Present at the Conference were Traditional Rulers from the Six of the Nine Member States of the Association, namely Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.AkwaIbom, Cross River and Edo States were not present but sent apologies.
A Keynote Address on the Theme of the Conference was presented by a learned Professor of Law, Professor Joe Abugu, SAN of the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Following the discussions of the theme of the Conference and other business of the Conference, the following resolutions were reached.
The Conference expressed its deep appreciation to His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State for his support and commitment in facilitating the holding of the Conference.
The Conference notes the prevailing state of insecurity in the Country and the Niger Delta in particular. The Conference calls upon the State and Federal Governments to deploy adequate security apparatus to protect the people of the Niger Delta and indeed all Nigerians from the activities of violent herdsmen, and unknown gun men.
The Conference expressed its concern with the state of environmental degradation, unemployment and lack of social amenities in all the Oil minerals host communities in the Niger Delta. The much anticipated socio-economic advantages derivable from the natural resources of the Niger Delta people, have eluded the region.
The Conference deprecates the state of infrastructural development in the Niger Delta, particularly the state of roads, standard schools, healthcare system, including the East-West Road.
The Conference underscore the position and role of traditional Rulers to lead from the front in the battle to emancipate its people from the clutches of deliberate deprivation and avoidable but seemingly endless impoverishment.
The Conference calls for legal instruments to institutionalize the relationship between oil and gas prospecting companies and host communities in the Niger Delta.
The Conference notes the progress being made in enacting the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill 2020. The Conference resolve in particular that:
The PIB has not made provision for the representation of the oil producing communities and prescribed traditional institutions
The PIB has no provision for some form of affirmative action recognising the interest of the prescribed traditional institutions including the host communities, and that the proposed Trust fund designed for Host communities under the Bill should not be subject to protection of Oil facilities;
That the protection of oil facilities in host communities remain and should be the responsibility of the Federal Government in its constitutional obligation to provide for the security and welfare of the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general.
The Conference believe in the unity of Nigeria and supports the resolutions by the Southern Governors in Asaba on the issues of dissolution of power and banning of open grazing.
The Conference calls for the restoration of a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the governance architecture of the Country.
The Conference dissolved the Executive Council of the Association elected in 2017, which tenure had since expired with effluxion of time. The Conference proceeded to elect a new Executive under the leadership of HRM Rtd. Maj. Gen Felix Majakperuo, the Orodje of Okpe
Dated this 26th of May 2021.
HRM MAJ. GEN. F.A. MUJAKPERUO, ORHUE 1 CFR mni
National Chairman
EZE DR. I.O. ASOR
National Secretary