Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin has enjoined the newly elected local government chairmen to assist in the fight against illegal migration and human trafficking, and insecurity in their various local government areas.
His Royal Majesty gave the charge when the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Matters, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai led the 18 Local Government Chairmen to pay courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin in his Palace.
The Benin Monarch commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for the election and expressed hope that these crops of local government chairmen will do their best to complement the good works of the governor.
His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II advised the chairmen to look inward for local resources that they could exploit for the development of their councils.
The Omo N’Oba cautioned them to channel the councils’ resources towards meeting the development needs of the people rather than using it to service political godfathers.
On the problems posed by human trafficking, the Oba of Benin urged the council chairmen to engage in sensitization of the people in the grassroots on the dangers inherent in human trafficking, just as the Omo N’Oba also charged the council chairmen to take the problem of insecurity very seriously.
The Oba specifically drew the attention of chairmen of Uhunmwode and Egor to the development needs of their people and admonished them to do everything possible to impact on the people and villages in the locality.
The Benin Monarch assured them of Palace support in their efforts to develop the councils.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Matter, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai said he was in the Palace to introduce the newly elected local government chairmen, and seek for royal blessings for them to succeed in complementing the efforts of Governor Godwin Obaseki to develop Edo State.
Hon. Ijegbai thanked the Omo N’Oba for the support over the years and sued for continued cooperation of our revered royal father.
Some local government chairmen including Hon. Napoleon Agbama, Uhunmwode, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, Egor, Hon. Victor Emuakhagbon, Esan South-East, Hon. Josie Ogedegbe, Igueben and Comrade John Akhigbe, Etsako Central said they would do as directed by the Omo N’Oba, especially in the areas of insecurity, human trafficking and development of the councils.
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Darlington Obaseki also led the chairmen of Board and other Directors of the hospital on a courtesy visit to his Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin.
The Board chairman, Bashorun Adedoja Adewolu said they were in the Palace to receive royal blessings to enable them achieve the best for UBTH, just like they did 24 years ago for the Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu.
He described UBTH as the first and the best in the South-South region, and assured that they would do their best to make UBTH excel in research, teaching and treatment.
His Royal Majesty urged the chairman of the Board of UBTH to use his wealth of experience as a seasoned hospital administrator and traditional ruler to make success of the health institution.
The Omo N’Oba called on staff and management of UBTH to cooperate with the Board so that the hospital could get to the top, and assured them of Palace support at all times.