Oba of Benin leads climate change debate in Borno

Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku, Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin has sympathized with Maiduguri flood victims through His Royal Highness, Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, the Shehu of Borno in Borno State, where he echoed debate on climate change.

Oba Ewuare made the remarks on Sunday at Shehu of Borno Palace in Borno State and prayed God almighty and his forebears to protect survivors of the disaster and comfort them.

The traditional ruler in a rare public intervention, tasked stakeholders, including governments at all levels and traditional rulers to walk the talk on climate change and focus their energies for result.

Expressing his sympathy to displaced persons, including those who lost their livelihoods in the disaster, the Benin monarch, pledged his support to the people and government of Borno State and commended the traditional ruler for showing resilience.

“Edo people from the heart of Benin Kingdom send their thoughts and prayers to the people of Borno State. Our hearts are with the families who lost their loved ones.

“We also empathize with those who lost their homes and livelihoods to in the disaster”, according to Oba Ewuare II, “Climate change and environmental degradation are realities that we can no longer afford to ignore”.

“As traditional rulers, we must advocate for policies and practices that do not only promote our people, but also safeguard their environments”, he said.

Responding, the Shehu of Borno, HRH Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi on behalf his people and the Borno Emirate, thanked Oba Ewuare II for the solidarity visit and presented copies of his books to the first Class traditional ruler.

The Shehu of Borno, commended rescue efforts by Stakeholders in the disaster Management and humanitarian agencies efforts, and went down memory lane on the historical perspective of how insurgency has impacted the well-being of Nigerians in the area.

Lamentations arose when Alau Dam in Maiduguri, overflow its bank after a heavy downpour on 10th September, sacking several communities and resulting in humanitarian crisis.