President Goodluck Jonathan has called for prayers from traditional rulers for the restoration of peace and solution to security challenges facing the country.
Jonathan made the call in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to the state traditional council of chiefs at the palace of the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammad Bashar, as part of his Presidential campaign visit to Kebbi.
He said that the traditional institution was custodians of culture and peaceful co-existence as well as major avenues for successful implementation of policies and programmes of government.
Jonathan said that his administration was committed to the unity and stability of the nation and urged the traditional rulers to ensure that peace reigned in their areas of authority.
“My regime would continue to entrench the principles of democratic governance through the conduct of free and fair elections in our quest to leave a legacy for posterity, ” the president said.
He said he was in the palace to seek the blessings of the traditional rulers considering the fresh governorship election slated for March 31, sequel to the annulment of the state governorship election by the Supreme Court.??
“We were here to present the PDP flag to our gubernatorial candidate and canvass for mass votes for him during the election,” he said.
He said the Federal Government would work along with the state government to develop the state and called for support from traditional rulers.
Jonathan used the occasion to commend the state government on the low level of crime in the state.
In his remarks, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar, commended Jonathan for initiating and executing development projects across the nation.
Bashar, who is also the chairman of the state council of chiefs, said the traditional rulers would continue to support the Federal Government to enable it achieve its transformation agenda for the nation.
The Emir called on the nation’s security agencies not to relent in their efforts at overcoming the security challenges facing the country, especially the “Boko Haram” group.
According to him, there are various kinds of the “Boko Haram” that includes the real haramand criminal “Boko Haram” as well as the political Boko haram mainly by those who lost political relevance.
NAN reports that all the four first class Emirs that included, Alhaji Samaila Mera (Argungu),Alhaji Sani Sami (Zuru), Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi (Yauri) were in attendance.
Others that accompanied? Jonathan included, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,Aminu Tambuwal, Defence Minister, Dr Bello Mohammed and the governors of Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states. (NAN)