The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the National Council of Traditional Rulers have agreed to strengthen the role of monarchs in national security and governance.
They agreed during a joint meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja which was initiated by the NGF chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, centered on a proposed bill before the National Assembly that would formalize traditional rulers’ constitutional role.
Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, said traditional rulers, being close to the grassroots, know their communities better than those higher up in government.
“We are focused on the constitutional role of traditional rulers in Nigeria. There is a bill before the National Assembly, and today, His Royal Majesty, the Etsu of Nupe, graciously provided an overview of the proposed bill.
“The bill would be shared with all in attendance and a joint committee would be formed to incorporate a feedback mechanism to make the document inclusive and reflect citizens’ needs.
“Our traditional rulers, being close to the grassroots, know their communities better than we do in government. They know the miscreants, they know the families, and they can better assist in community policing.
“Fortunately, we are blessed with many of them who are highly experienced, extremely lettered, extremely knowledgeable, and we have our retired soldiers,” he said.
“A new joint committee, chaired by the governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma, and comprising 15 members, will now work on enhancing the proposed legislation.
“Whatever document will be presented to the National Assembly will be very comprehensive, very inclusive – that seeks to empower our royal majesties, royal highnesses more and seeks to involve them in governance, peace, security of our various states across the country, including the FCT,” Abiodun said.
Etsu Nupe, who presented the bill’s overview, said the proposed legislation addresses crucial aspects of traditional leadership which will cover the structure and function of traditional institutions and also insulate traditional rulers from partisan politics.
The Etsu Nupe said the institution now has professionals and technocrats from various fields of endeavour.
“So we believe strongly if the institution is well founded, God’s willing, we will perform our utmost, as rightly observed by His Excellency. Our institution is now blessed with professionals, the military, technocrats, and all the fields you think about. So we served this country for 30 years, 40 years before we retired, and now we retire to another assignment of leading our people.
“So I think we’re the best of our crop that can conveniently lead our people and address the challenging problems we are facing in terms of social, political, economic and security, peace and what have you in this country.
“So we served this country for 30 years, 40 years before retiring, and now we are retiring again to another assignment of leading our people,” he said.
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