Defined constitutional role for traditional rulers will stem insecurity – Gov. Sule
Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has said that the security challenges across most Northern states will be addressed if there is a defined constitutional role given to traditional rulers.
Engineer Sule stated this when he hosted officials of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, led by its Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger State, at the Government House.
The BoT Chairman was accompanied on the visit by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako, former governors of Kano and Adamawa states respectively.
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According to the Governor, the security situation in the North can be improved if there is a defined constitutional role for traditional rulers and the government is able to provide necessary resources to support them discharge their given responsibilities.
He pointed out that the reason Nasarawa State is enjoying relative peace is that the traditional institution has remained key to the security architecture of the state.
Engineer Sule said as a result of that synergy, he remains the chief security officer of Nasarawa State.
“I believe that Northern Nigeria can improve our collective security if we define our constitutional role and give to our traditional rulers and tell them exactly what they need to do.
“And instil this in the constitution and provide all the resources necessary for them to go ahead and do that. It’s very necessary that we continue to support our traditional rulers. And we will bring back the ideals of the Sardauna of Sokoto,” he said.
Commenting on the recent security situation across the North, Engineer Sule called for a synergy between governors and security agencies operating in the states, stressing that it doesn’t make sense for a governor to fight his commissioner of police.
He commended the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for its commitment to re-awaken the values and ideals associated with the late Sardaunan Sokoto, who even after death, is being respected across the North.
The Governor recalled that during the Sardauna era, he was interested in the unity of the North, as he carried everyone along irrespective of tribe, religion or region. He was equally interested in the development of the North, establishing such institutions as the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and the Northern Nigerian Development Company (NNDC).
He noted that even though the North now has 19 governors, challenges of unity, education and relevant development still persist.
While expressing hope that the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation is working to address these challenges and bring back hope to the region, Engineer Sule, however, appealed to the leadership of the foundation to address a meeting of the Northern Governors Forum, with a view to making them understand the real challenges confronting the region.
He appreciated the foundation for finding him worthy to be conferred with the Sardauna Exemplary Service Award, alongside the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Engineer Sule particularly thanked the foundation for selecting Nasarawa State to host the next annual Sardauna Memorial Lecture, promising that the event will serve as a fulcrum for the rebirth of the North.
He used the opportunity of the event to highlight the inroads made by his administration, especially in the areas of education, internal revenue generation and the steps taken so far to reposition the state in terms of all the critical indices of development.
Earlier in his address, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and former governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, decried the security situation across the North.
Babangida Aliyu used the opportunity of the visit to highlight some activities of the foundation, especially scholarships given to indigent students from the region to study medicine, ICT and agriculture in Nigerian universities.
