By Julius Peter,Abuja
The Danbawuro III and Sarkin Ibi of Taraba State, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Saidu, has called for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions and the Federal Government to promote unity, development and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria.
The traditional ruler made the call while speaking at the Kwararafa Development Forum, themed “The Splendour of the Confederacy: Ancient Truth and the New Dawn.”
Describing the gathering as a special and timely initiative, Alhaji Saidu expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to participate in an event that brings together traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
He said traditional institutions remained an important bridge between government and the people because traditional rulers maintained close relationships with communities at the grassroots.
According to him, the government should therefore work more closely with traditional rulers in order to better understand the needs, challenges and aspirations of the people.
“The traditional rulers are close to the people. The Federal Government should work closely with the traditional institutions,” he said.
The Sarkin Ibi stressed that greater cooperation among traditional institutions and communities could contribute significantly to sustainable development, peace and unity.
He described the initiative behind the Kwararafa Development Forum as a welcome development, particularly at a time when there is a need for Nigerians to come together, irrespective of ethnic, cultural or regional differences, to pursue common goals.
He said he was proud to be part of the gathering because its focus was centred on development and bringing people together.
“This is a welcome development coming at this time. I am very proud to be here because what we need is development. I believe that with this idea of coming together, we will move forward,” he said.
Alhaji Saidu also called for the celebration of Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength rather than division, urging stakeholders to build stronger relationships across communities.
He maintained that unity, mutual understanding and collective responsibility were essential to achieving meaningful progress, adding that traditional institutions had an important role to play in facilitating dialogue and encouraging peaceful coexistence.
The monarch’s remarks added to calls at the forum for greater cooperation among traditional rulers and other stakeholders in addressing developmental challenges confronting communities.
The Kwararafa Development Forum brought together traditional rulers, community leaders and other participants to reflect on the historical heritage of the Kwararafa Confederacy while exploring ways of using unity, cultural understanding and collective action to promote development in the present era.
The theme, “The Splendour of the Confederacy: Ancient Truth and the New Dawn,” underscored the importance of learning from the past while building a more united and development-oriented future.
Alhaji Saidu’s call for closer government-traditional institution relations highlights the continuing relevance of traditional leadership in grassroots engagement, community mobilisation, peacebuilding and development across Nigeria.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the spirit of the gathering and translate the bonds created through the forum into practical initiatives capable of improving the lives of the people.
