The Federal Government on Thursday announced the launching of the National Traditional Leaders summit on Mediation, Conflict Management and Peace building.
This was disclosed in anews conference by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Abbas Hashim, in Abuja, saying the initiative is geared towards making traditional institutions as alternative dispute resolution organs.
Mr. Hashim also said the initiative represent President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, adding that it was all about government’s community-driven peace processes and the revitalisation of “our time-honoured traditional institutions.
Hashim further said the summit would bring together 350 traditional leaders across 36 states and FCT.
According to him, “The summit which will last for 10 months will systematically engage the six geopolitical zones through intensive programnes designed to enhance capacity building in modern mediation techniques.
“It will deepen understanding of democratic institutions and electoral processes, develop skills in post-conflict reconciliation and community healing and promote inclusive governance that ensures meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalised groups”, he added..
He also said, “Nigeria’s traditional institutions stand as monuments of endurance, wisdom and legacy.
“For countries, long before the advent of modern state structures, our royal fathers emirs, obas, obis, and traditional council members have served as custodians of peace, justice and community cohesion.
“Today, over 150 million Nigerians living within traditional domains look to these institutions not merely as ceremonial relics but of the past, but as living, breathing systems of governance that touch their daily lives in profound ways.
“Our royal fathers possess what modern institutions often struggle to attain: deep cultural authority that transcends political affiliations, intimate knowledge of local contexts.
“They possess community dynamics, moral legitimacy that enables honest dialogue between conflicting parties and extensive social networks that reach every households within their jurisdiction,” he further said.
Hashim identified royal fathers as the first responders when tension arose, trusted mediators when there is disagreement between neighbours as
well as guardians of social harmony in the event of division in communities.
He also said that President Tinubu believes deeply in the powers of traditional institutions to transform the country’s peace architecture, strengthen democracy and to preserve the best of our cultural heritage while embracing necessary evolution.
Hashim called for the collaboration of all Nigerians to strengthen the institutions as effective, accessible and culturally appreciate mechanisms for conflict resolution and democratic governance.
“Together, we will preserve indigenous wisdom while building capacity for contemporary challenges.
“Together, we will ensure that Nigeria’s traditional institutions remain not just relevant but central to our nation’s peace,stability and democratic consolidation,”he said.
The event was organised by the Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Chieftaincy Matters in collaboration with the Research Centre for Advocacy and Policy Advisory in Africa (ReCAP) among others.
NAN
