By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

YENAGOA — Stakeholders of Kabuowei Clan in Bayelsa State have adopted a four-point resolution aimed at strengthening peace, security, governance and sustainable development across its seven communities.

The resolutions were reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the palace of the Ebedaowei of Kabuowei Clan in Trofani, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, community leaders and other development stakeholders who deliberated on measures to address security and governance challenges confronting the clan.

In a statement issued after the meeting, High Chief Freston Akpor, the Ozituaowei of Kabuowei Clan, said the stakeholders agreed on a comprehensive framework to strengthen community administration and security.

The stakeholders welcomed the organogram on community administration recently issued by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Community Development, describing it as an important step towards institutionalising grassroots governance.

They clarified that while development unions remained recognised instruments for community development under their constitutions, they should not assume sole responsibility for administering the communities.

The communique stated that development unions should work alongside other recognised community organs to promote peace and facilitate development.

On security, the stakeholders expressed concern over the rising insecurity in the country and resolved that each community should establish a security structure tailored to its peculiar challenges.

They said security efforts should be coordinated at the clan level to promote uniformity, effective intelligence gathering and information sharing, while also strengthening collaboration with state security agencies.

The stakeholders further recognised paramount rulers as the chief security officers of their respective communities, as provided in the state government’s community administration framework.

They urged the traditional rulers to work closely with Community Development Committees (CDCs), youth and women groups and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen security.

The meeting also called for greater harmony among the various groups and institutions within Kabuowei communities.

It cautioned development unions against engaging in activities that could conflict with the established administrative structures of the communities.

“Development unions should be guided by their specific functions and constitutions, and their activities must not conflict with the administrative structure and organs of Kabuowei communities such as the paramount ruler, CDC, and youth and women executives, as provided for in the communities’ constitutions and the laws of Bayelsa State,” the communique stated.

The stakeholders said the clarification would help address tensions that had occasionally arisen between development unions and traditional governance structures.

On economic development, the meeting urged the seven communities to revive and modernise traditional occupations such as fishing, farming and trading.

They called for greater use of innovation and access to economic development programmes through government agencies, donor organisations and non-governmental organisations.

The stakeholders also urged development unions to collaborate with paramount rulers to ensure that Kabuowei communities benefit from proceeds and opportunities arising from natural resources, particularly oil and gas.

They further resolved that government economic activities and interventions in the communities should be coordinated at the clan level to prevent duplication and promote equitable distribution of benefits.

The communique stated that “all economic activities and interventions by government would be supervised and coordinated at the centre by the Clan to avoid duplication and ensure equitable benefits.”

Akpor described the meeting as a watershed in the history of Kabuowei Clan, saying it demonstrated the collective determination of stakeholders to address longstanding challenges through structured governance and unified action.

He expressed optimism that the resolutions, with the support of the state government and relevant agencies, would promote lasting peace, security and economic development across the clan.

The clan leadership also appealed to sons and daughters of Kabuowei, both at home and in the diaspora, to support the implementation of the resolutions and contribute to the sustainable development of their ancestral communities.