Kogi Governor Seeks Monarchs’ Collaboration for Peace »

The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has called for improved collaboration with traditional rulers, to accelerate development and promote peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.

The governor made the call on Wednesday during the presentation of staff of office to the Akinrin of Ekinrin-Ade, Oba Johnson Kolade Otitoju, a first-class traditional ruler in Kogi West Senatorial District.

The event took place at the Government House, Lokoja.

Ododo also called on the new monarch to support community policing initiatives and attract investors to the community, to usher in rapid development of the area.

“The need for cooperation between the traditional institutions and this administration is paramount for the peace and progress of the state.

“This administration sees the traditional institution as the closest authority to the people at the grassroots and will, therefore, continue to encourage traditional rulers to collaborate with the government for the development of the state,” he said.

He stressed the role of the traditional institution in protecting moral values among the people, adding that his administration was prepared to support the institution to achieve its goal as custodian of culture and tradition.

He noted that his administration was working to ensure that the state’s resources began to work for the people and cautioned against the indiscriminate sale of land to potential land grabbers posing as investors in different communities in the state.