Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed traditional rulers in the state living outside their kingdoms to relocate to their communities immediately or risk the wrath of the state government.
Ugwuanyi issued the directive on Thursday in Enugu during a meeting with traditional rulers and Presidents General of town unions in the state.
The directive must not be unconnected to the recent security breaches in parts of the state which led to the kidnap of a traditional ruler and killing of Catholic priests.
The governor also directed all autonomous communities involved in litigations to withdraw such cases and make peace within the next one month or face sanctions.
He said that security of lives and property was a collective responsibility, adding that traditional rulers could not administer their domains from afar.
Ugwuanyi said that the state government was poised to overhaul the vigilance groups in communities, adding that the traditional rulers were expected to be part of the process.
He said that each of the 260 political wards in the state would nominate 20 persons as members of the vigilante group in their areas.
The governor said that the selection process must be devoid of partisanship, adding that traditional rulers, clerics and community leaders must supervise it.
He directed the monarchs to be on top of the security situation in their localities and pay greater attention to areas designated as flashpoints in their domains.
Ugwuanyi vowed that he would no longer tolerate security breaches in any part of the state.
Responding, the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzo, commended the governor for the way he had handled security situation in the state.
Agubuzo said that traditional rulers in the state were confident of the capacity of the governor to steer the state out of the current challenges.
