Traditional rulers in Kogi central senatorial district have been charged to use their positions as royal fathers to foster unity and peace in their respective domain.
The Kogi State Head of Civil Service Mr Elijah Evinemi gave the charge on Thursday when he tour palaces of traditional rulers across Ihima community in Okehi Local Government Area of the State.
Mr Evinemi said the royal fathers being the custodian of culture and traditions of the people have significant roles to play in ensuring that there is absolute peaceful coexistence among the diverse clans in the community.
The Head of Service 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 can 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 cristal 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.
“It will also interest you to know your royal highness that Ihima has a Senator, House of Representative member, Commissioner, Special Advisers, Head of Service including other political appointees that are numerous to mention. This is the time we should unite so that we can jointly translate this appointments into development of Ihima” the HOS stated.
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 has 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.
“Without mincing words Governor Ododo has done a lot for us. Currently as I am talking now there are constructions and rehabilitations of some township roads ongoing in Ihima aside political appointment the governor graciously offered to us. God will continue to bless him and bless the Head of Service including all the people that are working with the governor” he royal father said.
At the palace of Idu of Oha , His Royal Highness Adai Salawu Hassan Aje, commended the HOS for the visit, saying “any body who believe in his origin and remember home can never regret his actions”
He promised that as traditional rulers they would continue to ensure that peace rain in the community and appealed to all the appointees from Ihima extraction to do their best in uplifting the image of Governor Ododo’s government.
Also at the palace of Obobanyi of Ohionwa, the royal father Dr. Jimoh Eneji Ahmed assured the HOS that as traditional rulers they would join hands to ensure there is peace in Ihima town and thank Governor Ododo for the appointment of their son as Kogi State Head of Service.
The HOS visited other traditional rulers such as Ohiomata of Odumi Chief James Otaru , the Ogu banyi banyi Aninyere of Ihima chief Yakubu Sunday, Ogasube of Ure of Ihima, Obobanyi of Ohueta HRH Omonori Zubairu, Ava’abe of Averehi of Ihima among others.
