Stop turning traditional stools to personal estates – Chief P.Y Biakpara tells Ijaw royal fathers

By Timi Black

A forthright Ijaw leader, wing commander Chief P.Y Biakpara has told Ijaw traditional rulers to stop turning their traditional stools to personal estates.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed and posted on his WhatsApp page on Saturday.

The angry Ijaw leader said Ijaw traditional rulers should stop amassing wealth for themselves and families, stating that it was high time Ijaw traditional rulers look beyond their nose.

The wing commander, stressed that Ijaw traditional rulers owes their subjects the obligation to make things better and not to rule their kingdoms from foreign lands.

The statement read partly: “Just last night I was thinking about our Ijaw Royal Fathers, all striving to be individually richer than their Kingdoms. And that is why who so ever is on the throne always use the advantage of the distinguished Royal position, to make money, not for the kingdom but for himself and his children.

“That is why most of them live outside their Kingdoms. It is the norm rather than an exception to see an incumbent King building guest house for their kingdoms.

“For most of them, while their official residences cry out for facelift, they are busy building personal estates parading as annexes or guest houses which may never be handed over to the succeeding king.

“Look around the whole of Ijaw Nation, particularly, the Western Ijaw, only few Kingdoms will be exempted from this ugly example.

“When next we speak of Nigeria needing strong institutions, we should remember the Royal institutions. Nigeria, nay the Ijaw Nation, even needs real strong Royalties than piecemeal rich kings. Is there something we are not getting right?

“The Royal stool should not be looked at as a part-time job. Neither should it be looked up as an individual or personal estate, he asserted.