By Innocent Anaba
THE people of Ogba in Orashi region of Rivers State have pledged their support, loyality and co-operation to the incoming President-elect, Gen Mohammadu Buhari.

The Oba of Ogbaland and former chairman, Rivers State council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Sir Chukumela Obi II, In a congratulatory message, yesterday, urged Buhari to shun rumour mongers, sycophants,’ bootlickers and character assassins but should treat all Nigerians equally irrespective of religion, ethnicity, political affiliation in order to move the country forward to enviable status.

The royal father in the message, called on the incoming Federal Government to aggressively address key national issues such as security challenges, sliding rate of the naira, poverty, corruption, hunger and unemployment, noting that effort should not be spared towards alleviating the sufferings of the people. He also called on General Buhari to urgently set in motion plans to right the wrongs meted to minority ethnic groups in the country by past administrations.

Adding that the unequal distribution of nation’s wealth, development and the marginalization of the minority groups in the country especially the Niger Delta Region were some of the aching problems of restiveness in the country.

Oba Obi II described as pathetic a situation where the people on whose resources the nation’s economy depends are living in squalor and extreme want, pointing out that the environment of the Nigeria Delta region has continued to face total degradation over the years with no effort to alleviate the suffering of the people.

He said that the problems of the Niger Delta region was peculiar and therefore, demands urgent remedy.

“I draw the attention of the Federal Government to the fact that because neglect has been so deep in the past, serious effort should be made without hesitation to correct the anomalies in the interest of peace, unity and understanding in the country.”

The former National Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities, TROMPCON, condemned the use of violence in the demand for justice and equity but appealed to the government to critically address the issues raised by those groups crying for attention.