February 21, (THEWILL) – The Borno state government has engaged the traditional rulers to provide a platform for sensitisation, engagement and
dialogue on the peace-building and reintegration process in Borno state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Umaru Tar, made this known during a one-day townhall meeting with traditional leaders on integration and sustainable peace in Borno State, organised by Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment (PACHE), which was held in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Prof Tar said the town meeting aimed to have constructive discussions with traditional rulers on the way forward for the Borno State government on restoration with regards to peace, security and development after more than a decade of insurgency.
“The key recommendation is that the government should look inward and consult widely at the grassroots levels. The traditional rulers are the representatives of the people.
They said our approaches should be changed, “Top-down approach to governance was discouraged by the town hall meeting, while bottom up to governance was strongly encouraged, so going forward state government will be speaking more to the grassroots constituency and traditional rulers downward.
“So we invited the traditional rulers to give their input on the way forward, we have received a lot of suggestions on how to return the IDPs back to their homes, on how to secure our vital infrastructure, as well as our rebuilding process.”Prof Tar said.
He said that the Borno government state has switched from humanitarian to restoration mode, “we are recovering vital infrastructure, way of life and return of IDPs to their ancestral homes.
The President of PACHE, Ahmed Shehu stressed that as a Civil Society, they observed the role of traditional institutions has not been well represented in the entire process hence the meeting and conversations became imperative.
“There are complaints that they have not been carrying along so instead of lamenting and apportioning blame the whole idea is to have honest conversations.
“We have more than 80 traditional rulers in this meeting and 56 of them are from the Borno Emirate so this tells you that it is a subject that everyone wants to involve in the process. I think it is important that the state government listen to the people”, he advised.
Also, speaking in the District of Yerwa, Engr Abba Sanda noted the traditional institutions play a vital role in society, urging the state government to adopt an inclusive approach that will gain the confidence of the citizens in the reintegration process.
“We need to sit down with critical stakeholders and discuss with them to their problems and how to solve them, all inclusive approach is the answer to our problems”, he opined.
The town hall meeting was tagged: “Together We Shall Build Borno Back Better” which was sponsored by the British Council and implemented by the Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security.
Pix 1. The State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Umaru Tar during his remarks at the events
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via [email protected].
Very high and kind regards!
