Insecurity: Abdulsalami underscores importance of traditional institutions

Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Saturday underscored the importance of traditional institutions to the lives of the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Abubakar stated this at the Emir’s Palace in Minna during the turbaning ceremony of his son, Isah Abubakar, as Walin Minna (Karami) and his younger brother, Alhaji Yakubu Abubakar, as Wakilin Minna.

He, therefore, called on government at all levels to empower traditional institutions to enable them to effectively play their role in society.

The former Nigerian leader said government should not just appoint traditional leaders but should also empower them in a way that they would be able to play their role in the lives of the people effectively.

“The traditional institutions have been our everything because they are the most critical institutions that have direct contact with the people.

“They are the foremost institutions taking care of the well-being of the people in terms of security,” he said.

He praised the Emir of Minna, Alh. Umar Faruq, for reviving Minna Emirate and urged the newly turbaned traditional leaders to represent the interest of the people well.

In his remarks, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger State appealed to the people of the emirate to give their maximum cooperation to the newly turbaned traditional leaders to enable them to discharge their duties diligently.

Speaking, the emir advised the new leaders to be fair to the people and to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

He urged them to put God first in whatever they did and to live above self-interest.