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By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday welcomed traditional rulers in the country to the “Next Level,” and stressed the need for them to be prepared to play a crucial role in the prevention and detection of criminal activities in their domains.
Speaking while receiving members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III at State House in Abuja, the president said involving the royal fathers had become necessary in view of the deep knowledge of their localities.
“You know all the families who harbour criminals and you know those who produce respectable individuals. You know the weaknesses of our society. We need your support to consolidate our achievements,” he said.
The president listed several significant efforts by his administration to enhance national security while emphasising the overall need for stability in the country.
“What we need now is your support. No government can serve creditably without your support. We will always count on your support,” he said.
The president also welcomed the royal fathers to his “second and final term, at the end of which I will, God willing, go to Daura and settle down.”
The Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chairman of the Council, who called on all Nigerians to “accept the election result as the will of God,” assured the president of the traditional rulers “continued unflinching support” for his laudable projects, particularly government’s cardinal objectives of fighting corruption, containing insecurity, sanitising the governance machinery, entrenching discipline, hard work and peaceful co-existence amongst the citizenry.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman of the Council and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, assured the president that traditional rulers would work very closely with his administration to fight criminal activities.
The Ooni urged the present to be a leader for the whole nation and father to all citizens.
