- * Commends Traditional Institutions For Unity Of Nigeria
By David Odama (In Lafia, Nasarawa State) Worried by the increasing spate of crimes and criminality in the country, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Senatorial candidate in Nasarawa state, Hon. Cletus Ogah, has advocated for a defined constitutional roles for traditional rulers in Nigeria, arguing that such increase in crime rate was due to inadequate powers vested on the monarchs.
Ogah said, defining the roles of the traditional rulers would not only strengthen the responsibility of the monarchs in nation building and a prosperous and peaceful kingdoms, but will saddle the institution with more powers to tackle insecurity, banditry and other criminal activities within their domains.
This is even as the ZLP Candidate has recommended that traditional rulers should be allowed to rule their communities in accordance with the tradition and norms of their forefathers.
The ZLP candidate who is also the IPAC Chairman in the state, explained that crimes and criminality were on the increase because the powers vested in the traditional rulers has been reduced, thereby rendering the institution ineffective as well as making them mere rulers without power.
While underscoring the urgent need for frequent meetings of the state governor, local government chairmen and traditional rulers to enhance a good working relationship and strengthen the institutions roles, Ogah noted that the rulers be allowed to mainstream into the security architecture of the state and their localities.
"Strict adherence to procedures guiding succession to traditional ruler as provided for by law and insistence that reverence for traditional rulers should be sustained as they were closest authority to the grassroots", the ZLP Candidate stated.
He also called for the creation of an enabling law to curb what he referred to as excesses of presidents of Community Development Unions across Nigeria, especially in Nasarawa state.
Ogah who faulted a situation where Local government Chairmen spending just three years were given more power and recognition above the traditional rulers spending their lifetime to oversee the communities within their domains. NNL.
