Challenges: NGO urges deeper collaborations with traditional rulers
An NGO, Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNBI), has urged governments to work closely with traditional rulers to help tackle insecurity at the grassroots.
Mr Sultan Teslim, Public Relations Officer of the CNBI, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe, on Tuesday.
According to him, the traditional rulers are closer to the people at the grassroots and they are prone to receiving first hand information on security within their domains.
“The government should support and cooperate with the traditional rulers to end insecurity challenges at the grassroots.
“The current security challenges in the country requires urgent attention, so there is need for stronger collaboration between government and the traditional institutions.
“We lose innocent lives on daily basis to kidnapping, banditry, ritualists and to other social vices, our communities are deserted with many people displaced.
“The destruction of property has cast a dark cloud over our once peaceful society. In the face of such adversities, unity and collaboration is paramount,” he said.
He added that there was need to tackle insecurity challenges and unjust killings of citizens amidst economic hardship.
According to Teslim, some states have been grappling with the scourge of banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and farmer-herder conflicts, among other security challenges.
“These states include Zamfara, Ondo, Oyo, Borno, Yobe, Kastina, Sokoto, and Kebbi, among several others.
“These myriad of security challenges has brought so much hardship on the people, hence all hands must be deck to tackle them, ” he advised.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to set aside their differences and embrace dialogue, as such moves would lead to lasting peace in the country.
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“I will implore our traditional rulers to harness their influence and unite their communities to join the fight against crimes bedeviling our society.
”They should ensure an atmosphere of understanding and togetherness by fostering peace at the grassroot, peace that will pave way for more development.
“The traditional rulers should use thier positions as community leaders to discourage violence and encourage young people to engage in productive ventures, ” he said.
He appealed for promotion of tolerance, respect for one another, love and peaceful coexistence within the society.
“I urge the traditional rulers to create a society where every citizen can feel secure and go about their productive endeavours peacefully,” he said.
Teslim, however, called for more powers to be delegated to traditional rulers to effectively support government in confronting insecurity.
