The need for traditional institutions across the country to be the vanguard of change that will instill confidence and restore mutual relationship between the people and the government was the topical issues discussed in a town hall meeting held on Wednesday in Lokoja, kogi state.
The meeting which was organised by the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu ,is to encourage the Traditional Rulers, Women groups, market groups, Students bodies, Press, Security Agencies on how to promote peace and security at all times in their domain.
The minister said the town hall meeting , as directed by the President Muhammadu Buhari is for all the cabinet members to go to their respective states to work for sustainable peace as a fall out of the #EndSars protest praised royal fathers in Kogi state for their roles in stemming the protests in the state.
Dr. Aliyu charged the monarchs to continue to impact positively on their subjects especially the youths which she said has rights to demand for improvement on issues that concerns their welfare and wellbeing.
She informed that President Muhammadu Buhari who is so passionate about the youths, had received and begun the Implementation of the five points thematic agenda of the #Endsars protests and had directed all the cabinet members to meet the grassroots in their states to pacify freyed nerves and to create synergy with the youths to prevent further lawlessness.
She regretted that the peaceful protest embarked by the youths was swiftly highjacked by hoodlums stressing that the meeting was called to ensure how these hoodlum would be mobilised to productively participate in their affairs towards nation building.
According to her, it is high time people should go back to the old days where traditional institutions were respected as their actions were treated with fears and trembling for the growth of the land.
She added that the royal fathers as the custidian of customs, traditions and peace builders cannot be overemphasized in this era that the nation is in dire need of peace.
She urged them to continually hold the youths in confidence for the consideration of lasting peace, acknowledged their capacity to hold down their subjects when Protests and violence erupted.
She advised them to use advocacy and mass enlightenment of the youths and vulnerables to toe the path of diligence and hard work.
The minister, however told the youths to always demand from any politician arming them against their fellow citizens to include his or her own biological children , adding that whosoever thatt armed them is should be treated as enemy of their future.
While calling on mothers to view their position as unique and divine , charged them to be agent of change in bringing up responsible children that would do everything for the growth and survival of the country.
In a remark, the Vice President of kogi state Traditional Council of Chiefs, HRM Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, commended president Muhammadu Buhari for recognising traditional rulers’ ability to maintain peace in their domain, promised to galvanize his members to ensure that peace and tranquility is achieved at all times.
He charged governments at all levels to work assiduously to create jobs for the youths , saying an idle hands is a devil workshops.
He advised the youths to always find something to do and to be diligent and hardworking which will make them to be associated with great men
The monarch charged security personnel to always discharge their duties with the fear of God and in consonant with their conscience, saying that the people will continue to demand for the best engagement from them.
The Chairman Kogi state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) Comrade Adeiza MomohJimoh called on the government to provide working tools to the state controlled media institutions to be able to cover wide spectrum of rural areas
while asking for the movement of Prime PM radio to be relocated to the Mount Patti for efficiency transmission, called on the Government to ensure the protection and preservation of the lives of Journalists who are always in the frontlines during emergencies.