Sultan of Sokoto Calls for Review of Poverty Alleviation Programmes

Sayss Rivers people are happy with Wike Governor to involve traditional rulers in project implementation

Ernest Chinwo country had not achieved the desired results.

“Poverty has been growing in the past decades. We need to examine if governments have judiciously used the funds accruing to them. We have spent so much money on poverty alleviation with nothing to show for it. It calls for a revaluation of the policies, implementations and strategies employed in those programmes,” he said.

He noted that every section of the country has legacies that support hard work and urged the government to look inward to proffer policies that would accelerate the development of the country.

The Sultan stressed that the solutions to the problems of the country should be generated from within.

Abubakar also said his visit had made him see that the people were happy with the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.

“We have been here for two days and we have seen how happy Rivers people are now and we have enjoyed their hospitality,” he said.

He said the Traditional Rulers’ Day of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Rivers State is significant as it brought together traditional rulers from all the country’s geopolitical zones, with the prospects of fostering unity.

He called for collaborative efforts amongst the traditional institution to bring out the best in their subjects.

In his speech, Governor Nyesom Wike, stated that his administration would empower traditional rulers to participate in the initiation, implementation and monitoring of projects and programmes in rural communities as they were critical in the government’s development agenda for the grassroots.

He said: “We shall soon come up with a viable framework to empower our traditional rulers to participate in the initiation, implementation and monitoring of development policies and programmes at the grassroots.

“We are doing all these because we believe that traditional rulers are the best partners to translate our plans and aspirations for the grassroots into reality.”

The governor said the state traditional rulers have over the years played important roles in the peace and development of the state.

Wike said: “We have no doubt that when the history of Rivers State will be written, the sacrifices and contributions of the traditional institution towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous State will be lined in gold prints.

“Apart from being the custodians of our cherished cultures and traditions, traditional rulers also exert immense political authority over their subjects. These traits make the traditional institution indispensable tool for driving socio- economic development, especially at the grassroots.”