By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Achadu Oko Attah Igala and Prime Minister of the Igala Kingdom, His Royal Highness Ali Yusuf Atama Ameadaji, has called for greater unity, increased inter-marriages and stronger collaboration among traditional institutions and the Federal Government as part of efforts to promote peace, development and national cohesion.
HRH Atama Ameadaji made the call while speaking at the Kwararafa Development Forum, themed “The Splendour of the Confederacy: Ancient Truth and the New Dawn.”
The traditional ruler described the gathering as a special and timely initiative capable of bringing people from different backgrounds together to strengthen relationships and foster development.
He identified inter-marriage as one of the important ways of promoting understanding, peaceful coexistence and unity among different communities and ethnic groups.
According to him, communities should make deliberate efforts to sustain such engagements by meeting regularly, preferably on an annual basis, to discuss issues affecting their people and collectively identify ways of advancing development.
“This is a special gathering. One important thing is to encourage inter-marriages, and we should meet annually or every year,” he said.
The Achadu Oko Attah also emphasised the important role traditional rulers play in maintaining peace and promoting development at the grassroots, noting that traditional institutions remain closely connected to the people.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to strengthen its relationship with traditional rulers and work more closely with them in addressing challenges confronting communities.
He said traditional rulers, because of their proximity to the people, are strategically positioned to support government policies and initiatives, particularly at the grassroots level.
“The traditional rulers are close to the people. The Federal Government should work closely with the traditional rulers,” he stated.
The royal father further advocated the celebration of diversity, stressing that Nigeria’s strength lies in its numerous cultures, traditions and ethnic groups.
He called on Nigerians to see their diversity as an opportunity for unity and collective progress rather than a source of division.
“We should celebrate our diversity,” he said, stressing the need for people from different backgrounds to come together, build stronger relationships and pursue common development goals.
Atama Ameadaji described the Kwararafa Development Forum as a welcome development, particularly at a time when there is a growing need for Nigerians to promote unity, peaceful coexistence and inclusive development.
“This is a welcome development coming at this time. I am very proud to be here because what we need is development,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the idea behind the gathering would produce meaningful results, stressing that continuous interaction and cooperation among traditional institutions, communities and other stakeholders would help create a stronger foundation for development.
The royal father urged participants and stakeholders to sustain the spirit of the forum beyond the event by translating discussions and resolutions into practical initiatives capable of improving the lives of the people.
He expressed the belief that bringing people together regularly would promote mutual understanding, strengthen social bonds and create opportunities for communities to work collectively towards addressing their challenges.
“I believe with this idea of coming together, we will move forward,” he said.
The Kwararafa Development Forum brought together traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on the historical heritage of the Kwararafa Confederacy and explore ways of building a new path of unity, cooperation and development.
The forum’s theme, “The Splendour of the Confederacy: Ancient Truth and the New Dawn,” underscored the importance of drawing lessons from the past while developing new strategies for peaceful coexistence and socio-economic advancement.
The call by the Achadu Oko Attah adds to growing advocacy for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions, government and communities in addressing development challenges and promoting national cohesion.
