SENATOR Abdullahi Adamu, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, on Tuesday stressed the need for the National Assembly to assign constitutional roles to traditional rulers in the country.

Adamu made the call in Keffi at a memorial lecture in honour of the late Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa II.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture, organised by Gamji Members Association (GAMA), an NGO, is entitled: “The life of Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa II: An Exemplary Leader Worthy of Emulation.”

Adamu, who is also a former governor of Nasarawa state, said having such constitutional roles would enable the traditional institution to function effectively, especially in enhancing national security.

According to him, unless and until traditional rulers are given their deserving roles in the constitution, the nation will continue to have one crisis or the other.

He added that even colonial masters duly recognised the role of traditional institutions in governance.

The lawmaker said history had clearly shown how traditional rulers played significant roles in curtailing conflicts between farmers and herders in the past.

He stressed that traditional rulers had mechanisms and instruments of addressing societal challenges if their structures were properly utilised.

“When traditional rulers have a constitutional role, they will be able to use their structures to have the knowledge of people that are in and out of their domain; which will checkmate the movement of bad eggs in the society.

“But as it is now, traditional rulers are not empowered by the constitution to arrest even a small boy for misconduct, because his parents can decide to go to court and challenge the Emir for calling their child to order.

“It is very unfortunate that the traditional institution is suffering in silence and all hands must be on deck to reverse the situation,” said Adamu.

He expressed optimism that if the traditional institution was given its rightful role to play, the current security challenge facing the country would reduce drastically.

Adamu described the late Emir as a leader worthy of emulation by the present crop of leaders.

“We are no longer living the lives the late Sardauna of Sokoto and other past leaders left for us.

“Our problems start from the family level; our generation of parents now share their responsibilities with their children.

“How many parents care to know when their children go to school or go to bed at night.

“We must give priority attention to the moral upbringing of our children, because good governance starts from the family level,” Adamu said.

Earlier, the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mamman Nasir, said Nigeria was in dire need of good leaders concerned about the welfare and well being of their subjects.

The guest speaker, Prof. Suleiman Mohammed of the Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, said the late Emir led his subjects based on the finest principles of leadership, exemplary, inclusive, selfless, tolerance and humility.

According to him, the late Emir was concerned with the progress and development of the masses.

Mohamed also described the late Emir as an extraordinary leader, an embodiment of tradition and culture, adding that he left his footprints in the sand of history by transforming Keffi to a modern city.

“He uplifted the vast majority of people by improving on their living conditions.

“There are a number of lessons to learn from this exemplary leader, especially given the leadership deficit in Nigeria, which has manifested in monumental corruption, impunity, insurgency, criminality and generalized poverty.

“To address the myriad of challenges confronting Nigeria requires that we search into our history, especially the life and leadership style of our successful leaders, learn lessons and move the country forward,” Mohammed said.

NAN reports that the event was attended by Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, former member, House of Representatives and former Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Amb. Suleiman Azores.

Others include the new Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Yamusa III, and Alhaji Shehu Tukur, a governorship aspirant in the state among others. (NAN)

– Apr. 3, 2018 @ 18:45 GMT

AE