Brass—The Amadabo of Sambo-Ama in Twon Brass Kingdom of Bayelsa State, HRH Samuel W. Sambo, has called for unity among Niger Deltans.
Speaking to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Saturday, Sambo noted that Niger Delta is not just blessed with oil and gas but also with agricultural, mineral and human resources.
He lamented that amidst the abundance of wealth in the region, most communities are still lacking basic infrastructures.
The paramount ruler said this has made life more difficult for the average people in the oil-rich region who, according to him, are unable to live their true potential.
In his words: “our underdevelopment, amongst other factors, is due to the internal wranglings characterizing many of our towns. We fight too much over things that don’t matter.
“It is high time we started exerting our energy in pursuing peace and uniting our people with reckless abandon.
“This, in my view, will strengthen us to demand from the government and multinational oil companies operating in our area what is rightfully ours.
“The more we fight to kill ourselves and polarize our land, the more we lose focus and slow our pace of development.
“The broom can only be used for sweeping away dirt when it is tied together. And an army of ants can kill a giant elephant when it attacks at the same time.”
While admonishing Niger Deltans to “learn from the unity both brooms and ants signify,” Sambo urged warring parties in various communities to forgive one another and end the internal bickering that has only impeded the progress of the region.
The traditional ruler also used the opportunity to congratulate Chief (Sen.) Nimi Barigha-Amange and Chief (Barr) Ezekiel S.Teigbanyo-Ikoli on their emergence as Chairman of Nembe Divisional Council of Chiefs and Opu-Nembe Kingdom Council of Chiefs, respectively.
He expressed “belief that the two chiefs will use their new exalted positions to unite not only the chiefs they have been elected to lead but the entire people in their respective domains and beyond.”