President Bola Tinubu recently convened a meeting with influential traditional rulers from various regions of Nigeria. The gathering, organized under the auspices of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), took place at the State House Conference Centre in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This meeting marked President Tinubu’s first interaction with traditional rulers since assuming office. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar, who serves as the council’s chairman, led the delegation of traditional rulers during the event.

During his opening address, the Sultan of Sokoto expressed the purpose of their visit, which was to extend congratulations to President Tinubu and pledge unwavering support for his leadership in governing the nation. He emphasized that the diverse professional backgrounds of the traditional rulers would provide a valuable resource for the President.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Sultan conveyed their confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to effectively govern the country with competence and integrity. Despite concerns raised by pessimistic individuals predicting a collapse of the nation, the Sultan assured the President of their support and stated, 

“We are here for you, for our people, and our country. If you don’t reach out to us, we will reach out to you. We wish you the most successful tenure in good health.”

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Adewusi, the Ooni of Ife and co-chair of the council, assured President Tinubu of their readiness to collaborate on addressing the nation’s security challenges. He emphasized the significant contributions that traditional rulers could make in this regard, urging the President not to underestimate their capabilities. 

“There are areas we will like to work with you, one of which is security. It is time to use us the more, we are not saying we are idle…but to make your work easier use us.

“The foundation of this country today are the traditional rulers. We are here to pledge our loyalty and support. We want to work with you to ensure you leave a legacy.

“Don’t underestimate what traditional rulers can do,” he said.

In response, President Tinubu reassured the traditional rulers of his administration’s commitment to maintaining an open-door policy, attentively listening to the aspirations of Nigerians and translating the country’s potential into tangible realities. He expressed his willingness to address concerns and encouraged the traditional rulers to reach out with any issues they may have.

“We are all ears. We are ready to listen at any given time. I promise you an open-door policy, and that is the path I will take. That open-door policy is for you to call me and send me any concerns that you might have. We may not always get it right 100 percent of the time, but we must strive to get it right 90 percent of the time for this country,” President Tinubu affirmed.

Regarding the country’s challenges, President Tinubu assured the traditional rulers, stating, “Worry not because the country is in good hands.” He acknowledged his administration’s awareness of the expectations held by Nigerians.

President Tinubu also discussed the decision to remove fuel subsidies, explaining that it was necessary to prevent smuggling and protect Nigeria’s resources. He pledged to remove any obstacles hindering the progress of the Nigerian people, emphasizing the importance of capital projects for development.

Furthermore, President Tinubu addressed the topic of leadership within the National Assembly, urging the traditional rulers to advise their subjects interested in elective positions on managing their ambitions and fostering harmony within the legislative house. He reiterated his commitment to collaborating with elected representatives, emphasizing the significance of the Nigerian project. 

On the subject of security, President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to prioritize the sector until every Nigerian could sleep peacefully. He emphasized unity and promised that every region would receive its fair share. The President also expressed determination to tackle youth unemployment and emphasized the need to curb crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region for the country’s economic growth and stability.

President Tinubu concluded by highlighting the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s diversity for its prosperity, growth, and stability.