By Ezekiel Jimoh
The Maigari of Lokoja, HRM, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir, Maikarfi IV, has advocated for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country.
In an appeal to the Federal Government, the traditional emphasised the need to place roles in the hands of traditional rulers because of their closeness to the people.
Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir made the call in a media chat with newsmen as part of the activities to mark his one year on the throne of his forefathers.
The Maigari said his role as a traditional ruler makes him to be accessible to the people, pointing out that the role enables him to have first hand information on what is happening to the people before the government.
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The traditional ruler called for roles that will allow the masses have a improved well-being on their living standards, insisting that the traditional rulers remain the custodian of the people’s culture and tradition.
The royal father described the office of the Maigari of Lokoja as a big task, but said because he was born into the royal home with his grandfather and father as former Maigaris, he was able to gather knowledge from them that has helped him in uniting and galvanizing the people for development.
” Based on my experience, exposure and as a widely travelled person, having worked in various places, made the task of leading the people an easy task for me”.
” To be a good leader, one thing that should come to your mind is that religion and ethnicity should not be a barrier”. Just as he said accepting everyone as his own has made him achieve the role of uniting and galvanizing the people for development.
As part of his one year anniversary, the Maigari said he was divinely inspired to visit health facilities in his dormain, adding that the vulnerable are people he so much cherishes in life.
According to him, it was part of the reason why rather than engaging in merry making, he visited the sick various hospitals to lend a helping hand to them by donating free drugs and footing their medical bills
.” I met terrifying situations at the Federal Teaching hospital” he further added.
The Maigari used the forum to urge the people to share what they have with the sick and the needy so as to make the society and the world a better place to live in.
He equally paid glowing tribute to the present administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, pointing out that the blind and the deaf can attest to the fact that the administration was committed to the well-being of the people.
” Gov. Ododo is doing extremely well. A lot of good things are happening in the state with salaries and pensions being paid as at when due. The Governor is accessible to all”.
He then appealed to the governor to sustain his leadership style and maintain his good works by coming close to the people.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Yahaya Farouk, described the one year of the Maigari as eventful, with several unprecedented developments attracted to the area.
Similarly, the member, Representing Lokoja 1 State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Tijani Ebaya, said the people of Lokoja are appreciative of the uniting roles the Maigari has displayed since assumption of office.
