ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has challenged traditional rulers and other community leaders to imbibe and practice democratic principles to ensure smooth running of their communities.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the advice on Tuesday while receiving an interim report from the Peretorugbene Community Constitution Review Committee in Government House, Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo said upholding democratic standards including transparency and the rule of law would help to avoid or reduce conflicts to the barest level in community administration.
The deputy governor, who commended the Chairman and members of the committee for doing a satisfactory job, however, directed them to swiftly carry out the next phase of their assignment.
The next phase, according to him, is the clause-by-clause presentation of the amended version of the Peretorugbene Constitution to the people in the community for their inputs and subsequent adoption.
Ewhrudjakpo also urged the committee to speed up action on the completion of their assignment to enable government to inaugurate an electoral body to conduct the Peretorugbene Community Development Committee (CDC) election as planned.
While assuring them that a new CDC would be inaugurated by the 19th of July this year, the he called on the people to support the effort of government to restore sustainable peace in the community.
He equally assured the people that government would soon constitute an independent committee to investigate allegations bordering on financial misappropriation in the community, adding, however, that no indigene of Peretorugbene would be allowed to play a role in the committee.
Presenting the interim report, Chairman of the Peretorugbene Community Constitution Review Committee, Mr Tanus Tarebi, expressed gratitude to the state government for the measures taken so far to resolve the conflict in the community.
Tarebi noted that the committee made painstaking efforts to properly define potential areas of conflicts in the community, including the functions of the CDC, the Amananaowei-in-Council and the Welfare Association with enabling checks and balances for each arm of government.
According to the Chairman, the final draft copy of the Peretorugbene Constitution will be ready for presentation and ratification by the people of the community by Friday this week.