The Wazirin Katsina, Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga, has said that if Nigeria must move forward in curtailing the looming security challenges in Nigeria, there was no better option than to toe the path of traditional institutions to save it from impending doom.
Lugga was speaking as Chairman at the Opening Ceremony of the just concluded 2nd National Conference on Culture, Peace and National Security organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), in collaboration with UNESCO, at the Banquet Hall, Arewa House, Kaduna, on the theme, “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria’s Democracy.”
Describing as unfortunate, the fact that the level of insecurity in Nigeria had been allowed to reach the stage it has got to currently, the Wazirin Katsina said, “It is time for all of us to come together, put aside politics, put aside religious sentiments and save this nation from impending doom. As the politicians seem to be blaming each other and the security forces accusing each other, it looks to me that only the traditional institutions now remains that should be put forward to save this nation.”
According to him, the traditional institution has the capacity to invite politicians of various political affiliations, invite people of various religious inclinations, and people of various ethnic and cultural diversities to come together and discuss: “I believe if the PDP Governor may invite people, some APC members will not come. Likewise, the police and the military now do not seem to see eye to eye; but the traditional ruler has the capacity to call on all shades of opinions to come together to discuss and take action on this unfortunate situation.”
Continuing, he maintained that it was so unfortunate that both the Federal Government, State Governments and the security forces in Nigeria seem to be in disarray, apportioning blames and playing politics over the lives of innocent Nigerians, saying a situation where some governors say security forces were not equipped enough to face Boko Haram insurgents and the Director of Military Finance just last week, stated categorically that they did not have enough funds to do that, then on the other hand, the Federal Government through the Minister of Finance, stated that some billions had been released to the security forces just about four months, was most disheartening.
While maintaining that there was need for all to join hands together in solving the extreme, unprecedented and serious security challenges the country was facing, Lugga said Nigerians do not have any other country than Nigeria, no other life but the life that Allah has given us, and that we owe ourselves the duty to protect the lives and property of our dear nation.
He therefore called on participants at the conference to concentrate on deliberating on the actual ways and means that the traditional institutions could be of help in curbing insurgency in the country, and urged the organizers to come out with far-reaching decisions, also admonishing the Federal and State Governments to consider whatever resolutions passed at the end of the conference and quickly act on it.
Caleb Nor
Corporate Affairs
NICO, Abuja