Somiari-Ama community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State has inaugurated its Chiefs and Elders Council and Community Development Council (CDC) following years of leadership tussle.
The councils are expected to oversee the affairs of the community, promote peaceful coexistence and drive sustainable development.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at Somiari-Ama Hall, the Paramount Ruler of the community, Chief Tamunokuro Somiari Amiejumbodie, described the event as a demonstration of the people’s collective commitment to unity, peace and development.
Amiejumbodie explained that the community had experienced years of ineffective leadership due to disagreements and misunderstandings among different families.
He, however, said the people had resolved their differences and agreed to work together as one family to restore peace and move the community forward.
The traditional ruler expressed gratitude to God for making the inauguration possible and urged members of both councils to work together to sustain peace, strengthen security and promote harmonious coexistence among indigenes and non-indigenes.
He also charged them to attract investors and initiate sustainable development projects that would improve residents’ living conditions.
Performing the inauguration, Reverend Gidium Odion urged the newly inaugurated council members to serve God and humanity, stressing that leadership should be driven by commitment, integrity and service to the people.
Odion expressed confidence that the councils would discharge their responsibilities effectively, describing the occasion as historic.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the two councils, the CDC Chairman, Comrade Nelson Koko, pledged that the members would uphold responsible leadership and work towards restoring the community’s former glory.
Koko expressed confidence in the experience and capacity of the council members, saying they would build on the existing peace to ensure that residents could conduct their legitimate businesses without fear or hindrance.
He also expressed optimism that the committee’s five-point agenda would bring positive changes to the community.
According to him, the agenda focuses on security, sanitation, electricity, reconciliation and empowerment.
He explained that the initiatives were designed to sustain peace, improve basic amenities, strengthen unity and create opportunities for the overall development of Somiari-Ama.
