…We were surprised that 9th Assembly abandoned the bill- Emir of Zazzau
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbass, has promised that the 10th National Assembly will create constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country.
The Speaker made the promise in Zaria on Saturday when he paid his first homage to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali after he emerged as the Speaker of the 10th House Representatives.
Hon. Abbas who was welcomed to the palace with a colourful durbar said, himself and majority of the current House Representatives understood the importance of the traditional institution and they will do the needful to ensure a role is created for them in the constitution.
This was even as the Emir reminded the Speaker and lamented that traditional rulers from the North had drafted their position on the constitutional roles for them and submitted to the former Senate President, saying they were surprised that the bill was abandoned.
According to the Speaker, “I am aware about three years ago, there was a paper by the traditional rulers council across the six geo political zones where they clearly stated how they want the traditional institutions to function in this present dispensation. We thank God that today your son is the Speaker of House of Representatives and in the position to revisit the position of the traditional rulers.
“I want to assure you today that my colleagues and I who are from traditional ruling houses and others who share similar sentiment will go back and look at the position paper written by the traditional leaders in order to ensure that the traditional institution has a place in this current political dispensation.
“We will work assiduously with the various state houses of assembly in order to ensure that, the glory of the traditional institution is restored.
“I am here with over 70 members of House of Representatives to receive your blessing, the blessing of other traditional rulers and Nigerians on the need to unite Nigerians for the progress and development of the country. We will from time to time seek your advice because we in government are like football players on the pitch who are bound to make mistakes,” Speaker Abbas said.
He however expressed appreciation to the Emir, the traditional chiefs and the people of Zazzau Emirate for the warm reception accorded him on his first home coming as the Speaker of House of Representatives.
In his remarks, Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Bamali said the request of roles for traditional rulers in the constitution is not an attempt to create another tier of government.
According to the Emir, “The Zazzau Emirate has nothing to say than thank God for the blessing He has bestowed on the Emirate. The Emirate has produced reasonable percentage of prominent Nigerians from Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Vice Namadi Sambo, several Ministers, Secretary to the Government of Federation and now Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“The role of the traditional institution cannot be overemphasized. Because the traditional institution has played important roles since from first republic, second republic and even till today. I am aware that majority of the members here have direct or indirect relationship with the traditional institution.
“What is surprising us is that, people will come to us to seek our blessing when seeking election, but when they win, they will disappear until another election, they now begin to see us as their stumbling blocks. Up till now, we are really shocked as traditional rulers why they behave like that, but what they failed to understand is that the traditional institution has come to stay whether we are alive or not. Wherever you go, you will still come back to us.
“We are aware that, the fear of most of these politicians is that, we want to create another tier of government. I speaking on behalf on behalf of other traditional rulers, the Sultan of Sokoto, Shehu of Borno and other traditional rulers. We discussed this issue of traditional rulers extensively. We went to Abuja, wet the former President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives. We presented our position under the chairmanship of Emir of Lafia who is a former Supreme Court Judge with experience. We drafted our position and submitted it to the former Senate President, we were surprised that the bill was abandoned.
“I am speaking on behalf of the Northern Traditional rulers. We are expecting the presenting National Assembly to look for the bill, dust it, work on it and ensure that it is passed into law,” the Emir said.