Governor Hope Uzodimma has suggested that traditional rulers should be assigned constitutional roles to fight insecurity in the country.

Mr Uzodimma made the suggestion in Abuja on Wednesday when he hosted traditional rulers from the southern part of the country.

He observed that traditional rulers had a key role in ensuring security and sustaining the country’s unity and political stability.

Mr Uzodimma said, “Some of us have argued strongly that constitutional roles be given to traditional rulers. Issues of insecurity, all types of criminality, kidnapping, banditry, and quasi-terrorism have held this country down for the past couple of years to ransom.

“If we must cure this menace, we must start from the roots. The landlords of the country are the traditional rulers. So, you have to partner with the government. It doesn’t matter which political party or government you like. Let us all help to tackle the problem.”

The Imo governor, who is also the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, further said: Community security and vigilance arrangements start with traditional rulers, and so we cannot do without you.

Mr Uzodimma said, “I invite you not to shy away from your responsibilities, identify with the government of the day. You are like barracks: ‘soldier come, soldier go, barracks still remain’.”

However, the governor commended the traditional rulers for believing in the country’s unity, saying that there would not be a country.

Mr Uzodimma also said the federal government was interested in partnering traditional rulers to have a united country.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said traditional leaders of the southern part of the country came together to ensure the security of the region and the nation.

Mr Ogunwusi said the traditional rulers of the southern part of the country were visiting for the first time to seek collaboration with the governors.

The Ife monarch added, “We realised that it is better we come together for the betterment of our people, including our various subjects in the political arena. We need to guide them and guard them right because we are closer to our people, and we know the challenges we are having in our country.

“We want to try as much as possible to form a strong and formidable force and this has come to stay; we are not particular about hierarchy or any structure or things that will divide us. What we believe is that we shall promote the ideals of the country irrespective of political, religious difference or cultural diversity.”

(NAN)