The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., has affirmed his commitment to ensuring that traditional rulers are granted constitutional roles.
Speaker Tajudeen emphasized the crucial contributions made by traditional rulers in society during his visit to the palace of the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to him, the visit marked his first visit to Zaria since assuming the position on June 13.
Speaker Tajudeen, who also holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, received a warm reception from the people of Zaria.
A large crowd gathered to celebrate his appointment as the fourth most senior citizen in the country, singing songs of joy in his honor.
Accompanied by several principal officers and over 50 House members from various political parties and regions, Speaker Tajudeen expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received.
He also extended his appreciation to the people of Zaria for the opportunity to represent them in the House.
During his visit to the emir’s palace, Speaker Tajudeen sought the support and prayers of the Emir and emphasized the need for constitutional recognition of traditional rulers.
He promised to revisit the proposal for constitutional roles for traditional rulers, now that he held the position of Speaker, and called for the cooperation of traditional institutions across the North and the entire country.
The Speaker urged traditional rulers to provide guidance and honest feedback to ensure effective leadership.
In response, Emir Bamalli highlighted the illustrious history of Zaria, which had produced notable Nigerians who had held high positions, including a former President, Vice-President, Speaker of the House, ambassadors, and ministers.
The Emir praised the political engagement of the people of Zaria since 1999 and acknowledged the significant contributions of traditional institutions to the country’s political stability and development.
Expressing concern over the lack of sustained engagement between politicians and traditional rulers after elections, Emir Bamalli affirmed the enduring importance of the traditional institution.
He addressed the misconception that granting constitutional roles to traditional rulers would create an additional tier of government, emphasizing that their case had been presented at different levels to no avail.
The Emir appealed to lawmakers to resurrect the bill and expedite its passage without opposition, urging the legislature to prioritize the matter.
The Emir of Zazzau expressed his gratitude to Speaker Tajudeen and his delegation for the visit, expressing confidence in their abilities.
He called on all House members to unite and work for the betterment of Nigeria, stating that the campaign season was over.
In a stakeholders’ meeting held subsequently, Speaker Tajudeen thanked constituents for their unwavering support and sought their prayers for a successful tenure.
He also expressed gratitude to his opponent in the recent general elections, Alhaji Musa Indabo, for withdrawing his tribunal case voluntarily.
