By Correspondent in Ilorin
The imperative of assigning traditional rulers roles in the 1999 Construction of Nigeria got re-echoed on Wednesday as the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stressed the need for these eminent Nigerians to be accorded with important roles
AbdulRazaq made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin at a one-day sensitisation programme on community policing organised by the Police Command in kwara state.
According to him, the monarchs are the closest to the grassroots and are better and legally engaged with certain things related to the masses.
He said:”I have always said that the traditional rulers are the fourth tier of government, their duties encompass all we do in our society.
“We have always been grateful to them because I receive calls daily from them on security issues, not just giving information but also curbing civil disturbances like we recently had in Ilesha Baruba.
“In that community, there was a civil disturbance earlier and the Emir singlehandedly calmed the situation and ensured that the community is safe. We deeply appreciate his efforts on what he did.
“In the last meeting of Northern Governors held in Kaduna, there was the idea that the roles of the traditional rulers should be amplified and embedded into the constitution.
“This means that we should give them constitutional roles in the society. That is an ongoing process, and I am a supporter of this initiative.”
The Governor reiterated his support for community policing which he described as long due, to strengthen security of lives and property.
“Community policing is an idea that is long due. It helps to localise policing, brings security architecture closer to the grassroots and get a more robust buy-in of the people. It relies almost entirely on local intelligence and constant interactions with community folks to succeed.
“However, it is important to state that the success of community policing depends on all of us seeing it as our baby that must be nurtured to success.
“I therefore urge every stakeholder to support the initiative. As an administration, we are wholeheartedly committed to community policing and will continue to mobilise public support for it, the governor added.
In his remarks,a one time Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Aliui Attah, observed that the existing policing system in the country had been grossly criticized for poor performance because of its inability to meet some expectations,attributing this largely to inadequate manpower and funding.
He said when community policing fully comes to play, it would generate employment, reduce youth restiveness and minimise crimes.
” When a community policing system is introduced, most communities who have not felt the presence of government in their localities would at least know that government has come to them as they will have representation who will be concerned about their safety,” he said.
Another former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tags Balogun, noted that the need for community policing in Nigeria was an initiative that climaxed his eight points agenda while in office, apart from the famous operation fire for fire.
He called for support to resuscitate community policing on account of its potential benefits, to reduce crime rate in the country.
Contributing, the Police Commissioner in the state,, Mr Mohammed Bagega, described the programme as a watershed and a radical renewed approach in the implementation of community policing strategy, as espoused by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
He added that criminal activities in the nation required pragmatic approach and support of all and sundry to curtail.
He said the principle of community policing remained the best option to ensure crime management and control, adding that with robust relationship between the police and other stakeholders in the state, crime management and control would be achieved.
The Reporters correspondent reports that top echelons of the police, serving and retired and other critical stakeholders in the security management of the country attended the occasion.
Leading traditional rulers, civil society groups, community leaders, and the media, amongst others also graced the event.
