By Saminu Ibrahim
Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council Committee on Thursday said it will evaluate the role of traditional rulers in order to stabilise the Nigerian polity.
Specifically, the committee was formed to look at the roles of traditional rulers in governance.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja, the monarchs stated that the committee was looking at the role of traditional rulers in stabilizing the Nigerian polity.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Aguma of Bassa, Dr. David Tukura said the meeting was to ensure that the Nation do not experience the intelligence hiccups that create the failures that makes action either too late or ineffective.
He added that traditional rulers are trying to see if there could be a role for them in the Nigerian constitution.
“We are a committee that is looking at the role of traditional rulers in stabilizing the Nigerian polity. As you all know, we are facing many challenges and we are working together with the critical stakeholders; the federal government, the state government, local government in ensuring that the Nigerian polity is given greatest stability in light of the many existing challenges facing us right now.
“We are trying to see if there could be a role for us in the Constitution, but much more importantly, a role in the security architecture of Nigeria. To ensure that we do not experience the intelligence hiccups that create the failures that makes action either too late or ineffective”.
He explained that traditional rulers once had a very strategic role in government in this country, saying “we want to look at that and then what new roles do we look at in light of current and emerging issues in Nigeria. We want to look at that”.
Tukura however denied that the committee was formed because of the recent abduction of students of Government science college, Kankara in Katsina state.
“This committee is older than the Kankara incident. The government has been very proactive in this issue. Kankara just happened about last week.
“This Committee is over four weeks old. This shows that people have not been sleeping. Brains are being stormed to look for new ways of looking at these issues.
“We are trying to think outside the box. This is the time for creative thinking. We cannot be doing the same thing in the same old ways and expect new result” he said.
The monarch reiterated that the purpose of the meeting was to look for new ways of doing new things in better ways, “we are trying to carry all the critical stakeholders along including the royal fathers” Tukura added.
The chairman of the committee is Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (Rtd).
Members include; Emir of Yauri, Dr. Mohammad Zayyanu, Mai Askirama, Dr. Abdullahi Mohammad, Etsu Agaie, Dr. Yusuf Agaie and Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmad Asha.
Others are; Barma of Borno, Alhaji Lawal Maina Mahmud, Turakin Keffi, Senator Abdullahi Adama and Sarkin Yamma Akko, Basiran Pindiga, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo.
