Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has urged the federal government to enact a legislation to recognise the role of traditional rulers as stakeholders in peace and conflict resolution across the country.The minister said traditional rulers had been active as peace makers for a long time and would make greater contributions to the nation’s effort to tackle insecurity when the duty is incorporated as their role with legal backing and some form of reward system.Aliyu, who spoke at the official presentation of a staff of office to the traditional ruler of Gwako in Kwali Area Council, Etsu Abdulrazak Ibrahim, said monarchs had played key roles in preventing conflicts between communities and people in Nigeria and would do more when their efforts were officially recognised especially in the constitution.Aliyu, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the FCTA, Mr. Olushade Adesola, urged traditional rulers in the FCT not to condone injustice, banditry and other violent crimes in the society saying anti-social activities would not encourage the development of the territory.The minister promised that traditional rulers would be carried along by the FCTA in every area of community development and urged the Etsu to rule with the fear of God while holding the scale of justice equally between the poor and the rich, without fear or favour.
She remarked that the office of a monarch should not be seen as a symbol of authority over others, an opportunity to settle old scores or victimise opponents, warning that the FCT minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, would not spare any ruler who deployed tyranny or oppression over the people, for whatever reasons or those condoning criminal elements and antisocial activities in the territory.
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