Date: 2013-06-12

Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and other traditional rulers across Kwara State have called for disbursement of security votes and granting of functional powers for them to effectively control their domains.  Speaking after what they described as 'royal summit' held at the Emir's palace, Ilorin, the State capital, the traditional rulers  canvassed for more responsibilities, even as the monarchs advocated for security votes to enable them address the security challenges in their respective domains. "Traditional rulers should be empowered to enable them perform more than just traditional functions of ensuring security in their domains," They said.  "In this regard, the idea of providing for security votes deserves further consideration. Alternative dispute resolution mechanism should once again be considered to enable traditional rulers perform their customary roles of settling disputes".

The council which called for stepping up of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, stressed the need for the traditional institution to be considered to enable them perform their customary roles of settling disputes.   "Even when panels and tribunals are set up on land and chieftaincy disputes, traditional rulers should be given opportunity to make their input. Traditional rulers should be taken into confidence and be more involved in issues pertaining to land disputes. More responsibilities should be given to traditional rulers especially on land-related matters". Apparently to achieve this, the monarchs called for creation of the office of the Special Adviser on Community Relations as a potent tool to ensure the sustenance of peace and security in the State.

In a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the monarchs maintained that creation of such office would create platform for a robust relationship between the government and the governed. The council also urged the federal and State governments to set aside grazing areas for the Fulani herdsmen in the country in order to avoiding incessant clashes between them and local farmers.  It further appealed to the federal and state governments to work out appropriate means of establishing grazing grounds with definite routes for the Fulani herdsmen. The communiqué which was signed by the coordinator of the programme, Professor Shehu Jimoh, said the establishment of gracing reserves will put an end to the incessant clashes between Fulanis and farmers.

The council also called on the State and local governments nationwide as well as traditional institutions to collaborate with a view to providing a lasting means of establishing cordial and enduring relationships between Fulani herdsmen and the local communities. No fewer than 51 traditional rulers from across the 16 local government councils of the State attended the summit including the council chairman and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. Other stakeholders in land sector are the State Director-General, Bureau of Lands, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Issa Bawa and members of the State branch of Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON).
The summit also featured presentation of papers by the Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Prof. (Mrs) Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams, former Dean, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, Prof. Hassan Saliu and the physician turned monarch, Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya.