Speaking when he granted audience to members of the coordinating committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria on Monday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that the country would have made more progress if traditional rulers were allowed to partner with government.
He said: “Everybody has one traditional ruler or the other. Therefore, we must respect traditional rulers who can summon anyone, irrespective of his/her status”.
The governor noted that in modern times, it is unwise to attempt to restrict traditional rulers to traditional matters.
While welcoming the traditional rulers who are in Rivers State for their General Assembly, Governor Wike thanked the traditional rulers for choosing the state for their meeting.
The governor stated that Rivers people remain committed to the unity of the country.
“For us as a people, the unity of Nigeria is very imperative. It is important we promote unity because we cannot toy with it”, Governor Wike said.
Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, said the unity of the country should be the watchword at this crucial time of the nation’s history.
He said that all Nigerians must work hard to ensure that the unity of the country is preserved.
He noted that since the traditional rulers are closer to the people, they should be incorporated in the governance process, especially the the process of development.
According to him, traditional rulers have key roles to play in the future of the country, especially in the area of reducing tension.
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar thanked the Rivers State Government for hosting traditional rulers from the 36 states of the Federation.