Kalu advocates roles for traditional rulers in constitution

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has reiterated his commitment towards ensuring that Traditional Rulers are assigned constitutional roles.

Hon. Kalu stated this when he received the Royal Fathers in Ila/Boluwaduro/Ifedayo Federal constituency and some Southwest lawmakers led by Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, the Orangun of Okeila who paid him a courtesy visit to submit their proposal for the creation of Igbomina state in South West.

Addressing the delegation, the Deputy Speaker who doubles as the Chairman House Committee on Constitution Review commended traditional institutions for their significant contributions to the nation’s unity, saying that they should be accorded roles in the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

Speaking on their proposal for creation of Igbomina state, Hon. Kalu commended the delegation for their belief that the dividends of democracy will trickle down better to the grassroots if a state is given to their people.

He, however, urged them to ensure that they fulfill all the provisions of the Constitution in terms of documenting all that is required for state creation, assuring that if they do, it will be taken to the next level.

The Deputy Speaker said: “Let me start by commending the traditional rulers for the work they’re doing, so it has national coercion, national unity and peace around the country.

“My colleagues around the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my office, and I commend the hard work that you always put in to ensure that we don’t have community crises or a lack of peace. That’s the reason some of us are pushing for some sort of recognition for the traditional rulers in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are still looking at it, and hoping we find a way to crack it so that it can get some recognition at the local government level, the State level and National level.

“And I want to thank you for governing your people. Thank you for keeping our homes safe, thank you for keeping our culture, our identity that defines us as a people. In the South West, in Nigeria, In Africa. As the custodians of our culture, if we are not respected, the values, our cultural values will be eroded by deviant behaviours.

“I like how you care for our communities. You believe that the dividend of democracy will trickle down better to the grassroot if a state is given to the people who are homogeneous in culture. It is like they said there are constitutional rights to demand that.

“Our journey is to help streamline the process of making it happen, the call is for the House to approve and then for the President to accept.

“So you just started the journey hoping that you have fulfilled all the provisions of the constitution in terms of documenting all that is required by the provisions of the constitution if you’re seeking for a new state.

“And the two-thirds, the house of assembly, two-thirds, counselors and the affected local government, and then two-thirds of members of the house and two-thirds of members of the senate. If that has been fulfilled, we will give it a good push.

“We guarantee you that since you have submitted your documents, I believe you have submitted your complete documents before the expiration date of the closure we gave for the submission. Many have submitted and many did not meet the requirements. I’m promising you that we are going to take it to the next level. Thank you for coming and God bless you.”

Speaking earlier, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin and member representing Ila/Boluwaduro/Ifedayo Federal constituency, Hon. Clement Akanni in their separate remarks commended the Deputy Speaker for the work he’s doing in the constitution review committee.

They informed him that notable personalities that represent part of osun, Kwara and Ekiti states are agitating for Igbomina state, adding that they have the necessary ingredients of becoming a state, and are going to fulfill those conditions.

“We’ve come today to present our proposal for Igbomina state. And the notable personalities that represent part of Osun, Kwara and Ekiti States here today are his royal majesties.

“These three states are agitating for Igbomina state. We’ve come together with the consent of our leader Chief Bisi Akande that it is high time to have a state of our own.

“All the necessary ingredients of becoming a state, we are going to fulfill those conditions. We pray that if we have that state, we are going to be far ahead. That’s the beauty of democracy and federalism,” he said.

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