Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in his determination to ensure the wellbeing of traditional rulers and accord them their rightful place in society, has elevated 100 monarchs, SAM EGWU reports.
The Kogi state government recently took a pragmatic step in setting aright issues in the traditional circle.
The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello took the bull by the horn by giving letters of appointment to 100 newly upgraded traditional rulers in the state.
For all intent and purpose, the traditional head of a community is closer to the people from grassroots, than all arms of government, no matter what.
The government went about this elevation so as to further promote peaceful coexistence in the community.
One may wonder at the the apparent show of love and solidarity exhibited by the crowned heads of the community, but as some of them rightly put it, “we have been marginalised for a very long time by some unnecessary bottle necks put along the path to achieving our father’s stool of authority.”
An observer of the unfolding event in the traditional institution, Mohammed Alabi stressed that the government has taken a positive direction with a determination to improve the relationship between the communities in the state through bridging the gap created by the dichotomy in the chiefdoms in the state.
The real danger in the neglect of the traditional institution would have been adverse because this is where the bulk of the voters come from.
Presenting letters of appointment to the affected chiefs at the conference hall of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lokoja, the state capital, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Dan Victor Usman said the appointments were made after due consultations in accordance with the chieftaincy law in the state, which has been in existence.
Usman noted that issuance of letters of appointment, grading and upgrading to royal fathers was borne out of sincere desire of the government under governor Bello to meet and yield to age long requests from communities on the need for upgrading their monarchs.
He further stated that after exhausting all recommendations from all levels of traditional councils, the exercise became imperative in view of the compelling need for this administration in the spirit of fairness and justice to address the cases of injustice, total neglect and more importantly to bring about the manifestation of this administration’s policy of inclusive governance.
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“While we look forward to a prosperous state and improvement in the relationship with the populace, it is necessary to quickly point out that your cooperation with the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, Governor of Kogi State is highly needed.
“As custodians of tradition and culture of the people, the monarchs were expected to maintain peace at their various domain to add value to campaign for peace which Governor Yahaya Bello stands for. Those stools that are yet to be considered should not loose hope as upgrading of traditional stools is a continuous exercise,” Usman charged the monarchs.
The newly appointed chiefs include, Obobenyi of Ihima Samuel Onimisi, HRH Idowu Bamigbaye, Odofidi of Ehebe and Bajana of Obajana HRM Stephen Osenisi 111.
The Obobenyi of Ihima, HRH Samuel Ojo who was elevated to First Class chief status promised to mobilise his subjects for peaceful coexistence.
Speaking earlier on behalf of his colleagues, Chief Idowu Bamigbaye said, the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello has made tremendous impact on traditional institutions by charting way for peaceful co-existence.
“The tradition of the people must not be toyed with if any government, either state or federal wants to impact meaningfully on the society. Here is where Yahaya Bello has triumphed above all others in a matter of sincerity.
He expressed delight that the government gave attention to all genuine complaints which were corrected especially, the issuing of the letter to authenticate the stool.
He pledged the unalloyed support of his community to the new direction of the government of governor Yahaya Bello, promising to mobilise his subjects to embrace peace as he described peace as the main ingredients for the development of any society.
He enjoined them to continue to live in harmony with people of other clans in the area.
Governor Yahaya Bello had earlier distributed letters of appointment to 100 upgraded traditional rulers in the state.
The highlights of the event was handing over letters of appointments, grading and upgrading to 17 First Class Chiefs, 23 second class and 60 third class chiefs bringing the total to 100.
The Obobenyi of Ihima who spoke to journalists in an interview stated that the honour done to the monarchs by governor Bello would forever remain green in their memory and their communities.
