Oba of Benin, Ewuare II on Wednesday called for the establishment of a Council for Traditional Rulers to check cross-border crimes within the West African sub-region.
The Oba made the call in a lecture entitled “The Role of Traditional Institutions in the Preservation of Cultural Values and the Management of National Security” delivered at the Institute for Security Studies, Bwari, Abuja.
According to him, traditional rulers as divine statutory authority closest to the grassroots, are better placed to curb crimes by unscrupulous migrants, leveraging on the closer ties and shared values among traditional rulers in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The monarch called for the creation of an Upper Chamber, made up of traditional rulers, through the instrumentality of the Constitution.
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The also canvassed for the establishment of a Security Trust Fund, from where money could easily be drawn to provide the necessary equipment, training and other requirements, devoid of impediments, in addressing security challenges.
The royal father noted that the creation of an Advisory Council of Traditional Rulers, would put the wealth of experience of traditional rulers at the disposal of the various heads of governments on matters of security in the West African economic bloc.
“Such mechanism would strengthen the role of heads of states and governments, through the sharing of intelligence and provisions of grassroots support, which traditional rulers represent,” he said.
The Benin Monarch charged the federal government to prioritise security, to enable it effectively decisively address the worrisome issues of insurgents, hoodlums of different categories across the country and the perennial herders/farmers’ clashes,
The Oba, who reiterated that though security was the collective responsibility of all, maintained that security remained the primary responsibility of the government.
He urged governments to ceaselessly act as catalysts by leading the way through strategic planning; adequate funding of security agencies; forging effective and rewarding partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders in the security sector.
The Oba further charged governments to continuously demonstrate the political will to deal with proven cases of criminal activities.
In an overview of the Oba’s Lecture, Dr. Abdulwahab Wali, Deputy Director of Studies,at the institute, who represented the Acting Director-General of Department of State Security, said the Oba of Benin’s presentation would help in finding a lasting solution to the numerous security challenges bedevilling the nation.
While commending the Benin Monarch for his in-depth Lecture, Wali noted that the submission was apt and timely, in view of national and global security challenges.
Wali assured that the Oba’s thoughts, as encapsulated in his presentation would serve as template for an enduring, workable, efficient and effective National and Regional Security Policy and Programme of action. (NAN)