With barely two months to the 2022 FCT area councils’ elections, the FCT Administration has warned that it will hold traditional rulers and tittle chiefs liable for any breach of peace in their domains during the electioneering period.
The Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat, Ibrahim Dantsho, sounded the note of warning during a familiarisation tour to some FCT Graded Chiefs in Abaji and Kwali area councils.
He admonished traditional rulers of the 17 Abuja graded chiefdoms to constantly engage their subjects irrespective of sociopolitical differences so as to foster peace in their area.
The mandate secretary said government is not unmindful of the prevailing security challenges in the country, noting that those involved in acts that breach the peace are known to the people within the various domains of the FCT.
He said the chiefdoms cannot be left out of the quest to foster peace especially in the wake of the prevailing insecurity.
“As the traditional ruler in your domain you should talk to your subjects on why there must be peace, as once there is peace a lot of things would be enjoyed. That’s why we are preaching peace.
“In the next five weeks or so we will be having the area council election and the Minister said we should convey this message to you why there must not be any loss of lives. You need to talk to your subjects that irrespective of party differences, there should be peace before, during and even after the elections.
“And if you (graded chiefs) allow anything to happen in your domain the FCT Administration will not hesitate to hold you responsible for their action or inaction, and why it was not curtailed.
“We urge you to preach peace to your people before, during and after the electioneering, so that we will continue to enjoy peace, that the FCT is known for.”
Responding, Etsu of Yaba Chiefdom, in Abaji Area Council, Alh. Abdulahi Adamu, advised politicians to ensure that they follow established law and order of the society, in the pursuit of their aspirations.
Adamu said, “What we want is peace with or without elections, because nothing can be done in the atmosphere of crisis.”
The paramount ruler however made a passionate appeal for continuous upgrading of status of graded chiefs in FCT, in order to ensure strategic progression of the traditional institutions.
Similarly, Etsu Wako Chiefdom, in Kwali, Abdulaziz Usman Ibrahim, decried the absence of a police station and perimeter fencing of schools in the chiefdom.
He stressed the need to empower its teeming unemployed youth, equip its police post, which has remained unutilised in the area.
Earlier, the Ona of Abaji, Adamu Baba Yunusa, pledged to work with the area councils Services Secretariat towards making the people at the grassroots feel the impact of government.
On his part, the chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abdulrahman Ajiya, said to tighten security, the council collaborated with DSS, Vigilante and the police to stem the tide of criminality in the area.
He, however, called for the support of FCTA in the area of security to sustain the progress made so far in combating crime in area council.
