Day Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable got Royal blessing
Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR) has adjudged the Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable a unique service based platform, opting to back further programmes and activities of the organization.
Addressing members of the pan-Oro body who were on a courtesy visit to the traditional rulers, Friday, Chairman of the COTR and newly elected Paramount Ruler of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, HH Chief Effiong Unanaowo cheered the group for its orderly conduct and patriotic drive in serving Oro Nation.
Chief Unanaowo admonished the Roundtable to apply dedication, zeal and adherence to counsels from traditional fathers, which he said will embolden members of the organization in their service to community.
The COTR Chairman used the occasion to criticize the abusive manner with which Oro youths wear the “Iyara” (Oro traditional red cap), saying only ‘ekpei initiates, traditional rulers and titled chiefs’ were qualified to decorate their Iyara.
He expressed belief that the Roundtable will lead other youth groups exemplarily in various aspects, especially in respecting tradition, remarking that the COTR looks forward to a robust relationship with the Roundtable.
Speaking earlier on the occasion, Convener of the Roundtable, Barr. Omen Bassey thanked the royal fathers for their roles in piloting affairs of the Oro community, adding that the group was on the visit to seek the fatherly blessings of the COTR.
“After four years of meaningful engagements, we are ready to launch out and we can’t do so without bringing ourselves before the COTR. That is why we are here to seek fatherly endorsement, blessings, collaboration and partnership, so we can continue,” Barr. Bassey said.
“There is no framework guiding and regulating the Oro Nation Steering Committee. This has brought a gap that has to be filled and we appeal to our fathers to do something about this to avoid crisis in the future”. He continued.
The Convener also highlighted some social issues that require urgent consideration including education, poverty, as well as exorbitant marriage and funeral rites.
In his words, “There are things giving us concern in Oro. We seem to have abandoned education. Our villages can institute community scholarship schemes to help educate our brilliant but indigent students. After all, most of the houses which quartered our parents in school compounds were built by the communities.
“We plead with you, our fathers to also step in and simplify certain customs and traditions like marriage and funeral rites, so that some persons could be able to afford them, since poverty has become a very huge concern in Oro,” he concluded.
In his remarks, former President General of Oron Union, Sir Asuquo Inuikim, PhD noted with dismay, the rising level of insubordination among Oro youths and the worrisome decline in education, insisting that the issue of high-cost customary rites mentioned by the Convener was a cause for concern to everyone.
However, the COTR informed that customary rites in Oro were already being reviewed by the Council’s committee on Oro Nation Customary Law.
Highpoint of the event was pronouncement of royal blessings on members of the group by the traditional rulers.
The meeting was also attended by Village Head of Edok and Secretary of COTR, Offong Etim Oquong and Village Head of Eyo-Abiasang, Offong Effiong Uyeh.
Other members of the COTR who participated include Sir and Lady Etim Uye, Chief (Engr.) Ben Ukpong, Chief Dr. Asukwo Anwana, Chief Ulo Ante Uye, Chief Dr Francis Isangedighi, Chief Dr Esin Bassey Nkereuwem, Chief Eyo Asukwo Eyo among others.
John Ntekim
Publicity Secretary
Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable
30.01.2021
