President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday said that for Nigeria to surmount security challenges confronting it, traditional rulers in the country should be given specific roles to be enshrined in the Constitution.
Lawan stated this in a welcome address delivered when a visiting delegation from the Argungu Emirate paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.
According to him, giving roles to traditional rulers would allow them support the efforts of government and security agencies in addressing the challenges of insecurity.
“Traditional fathers have always been supportive of government. In fact, in the past, for those of us from the northern part of the country, the traditional leadership played a key stabilizing role in administration.
“Before 1976 when local governments were created, the traditional leaders brought both administration and management into focus, and we still need them.
“We need to have a proper role given to them, and more especially, in the current security situation. I’m sure that the traditional rulers can provide a lot of support for government and security agencies in fighting the challenges of insecurity that we have today,” Lawan said.
Earlier, the delegation which was led by Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan (Kundudan Kabi), said the visit was at the instance of the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, to thank Senator Lawan for honouring the Emirate’s invitation to attend the Argungu Fishing Festival as a special guest.
Hassan while conveying a goodwill message from the Emir of Argungu, announced the conferment on the Senate President the esteemed traditional title of ‘Ganuwar Kabi’.
The Senate President in his acceptance speech, thanked the Emir for the honour and gesture bestowed him with the conferment of the title, and expressed his willingness to be a “protector” of the Emirate.
