By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday called on traditional rulers in the country to put their concerns and advice on issues of governance in writing and send to him.
This was disclosed by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lameed Adeyemi III, after a closed-door meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja.
He said the President, as a good listener, needs the wise counsel of monarchs to move the country forward.
“The President listened attentively and he has asked me to pass the information to other traditional rulers in my domain to assist the government by giving advice because he is a good listener but that such advice should be put in writing so that he can then relate it to the problems affecting Nigeria,” he said.
The Oyo monarch also told journalists that he had discussed issues relating to security and the state of the economy with the President, and advised on ways to to address the multiple problems facing the country.
He said: “As a Nigerian and one of the topmost traditional rulers in the country, over the time, I sent a memorandum to the President which he acknowledged and he asked me to come and endorse those things I have written. I think it is time for me to use the proper channel to reach the President for suggestions and advice. Where he deserves commendation, I should also do that.
“I have met with the President and offered some suggestions. We are losing huge resources to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers. Coming close to that is the infiltration of the militants in Lagos and Ikorodu where in the last three weeks, 10 landlords were massacred.
“The Federal Government has since sent forces there to wipe them out. Normalcy has since returned to Ikorodu and Arepo area. If they had successfully spread their activities to the South West, there would have been more destruction. Lagos is the economic heartbeat of the nation, especially as it concerns the multi-dimensional problems Nigeria is facing; the Avengers and the bombing of oil installations, MEND, Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.”
