By Emeka Nze
Abuja
A traditional ruler in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state, His Royal Highness Asara A. Asara, has rejected a constitutional role for traditional rulers, saying that the hands of the monarchs were already filled with responsibilities.
Asara, a delegate at the ongoing conference, in an interview at the weekend, said an additional role for the traditional rulers would amount to a distraction which would not be in the interest of the communities.
On Boko Haram, Asara said when the activities of the militants in the Niger Delta were on top gear, the top brass in the regime of the late President Umar Yar’ Adua never deemed it fit to visit the area to have first-hand information of what was happening.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan, then a vice-president, was sent to go to the Niger Delta into the creeks to persuade the militants to down their weapons, adding that “now it is the turn of Boko Haram, the people from the North are making it the problem of the entire country.”
He said the North should see the problem of the sect as their own problem and should confront it head-long without recourse to the entire country.