5 hours ago
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Traditional rulers in Kogi Central senatorial district have been charged to use their position as royal fathers to foster unity and peace in their respective domains.
The Kogi state Head of Civil Service, Mr Elijah Evinemi, gave the charge on Thursday when he visited the palaces of traditional rulers across Ihima community in Okehi local government area of the state.
Mr Evinemi said the royal fathers, being the custodians of culture and traditions of the people, have significant roles to play in ensuring that there is peaceful coexistence among the diverse clans in the community.
The HoS whose first point of call was at Ohi of Ihima’s palace in Ihima, told the first class traditional ruler that the state governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has been advocating for peace in Ihima and the entire state, noting that without peace, unity and common understanding no community could achieve the desired development.
“I am paying this homage to all traditional rulers in Ihima today, first to formally present myself as the Head of Service appointed by His Excellency Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and secondly to help me appreciate the governor for the favour done to Ihima people by this appointment.
“I am also in the palaces to intimate the traditional rulers that the current administration has a lot of developmental plans for the people of Ihima and indeed the entire Okehi local government. It is crystal that without cooperation and speaking with one voice as indivisible entity, it will be difficult to achieve the development plan the government has for our people.
“That is the reason I am passionately appealing to all the traditional rulers in Ihima to forget whatever might have happened in the past so that we can benefit from this rare opportunities God has presented to the people of Ihima in this dispensation,” he said.
Responding, the Ohi of Ihima His Royal Highness Alhaji Ogido Abdulraheem, revealed that no clan in Ihima that does not benefit from the current administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, declaring that Ihima people have no reason not to cooperate and support the government.
The royal father described the appointment of Mr Elijah Evinemi as a round peg in a round hole, noting that Ihima community and its people would continue to be grateful to the governor for the appointment.
