By Abubakar Sadiq Isah.
The Chairman/ chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) retired General Buba Marwa, has commended the Ona of Abaji /Chairman of the FCT of chiefs, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Alhaji Dr Adamu Baba Yunusa, for always stand in support of the agency for advocating against drugs abuse.
Marwa, who was represented by his special adviser, Mr Otunba Lanre Opiminsho, spoke at a public symposium on community development in commemoration of the monarch’s 25th anniversary on throne, which held at the permanent site of the Abuja University of Science And Technology Abaji (AUTA) on Wednesday.
He said the traditional ruler has always been the guest whenever the agency is organizing its annual conferences on drugs control, while he congratulated him on his 25th year anniversary on throne as the Ona of Abaji kingdom.
Marwa, however, noted that the issue of drug abuse is in every house hold in the country, disclosing that some top government officials, political office holders including some university lecturers were also into drug abuse.
He said the agency under his leadership been able tackle cases of drugs abuse and other illicit drugs related matters across the country.
He also stressed on the need for parents to always watch their children’s attitudes especially when they return back home, saying many parents hardly create time to monitor the attitude of their children’s behaviors to ascertain if such child is into drugs or not.
“The problem we have with some of our parents is that, we hardly create time to monitor our children. And that is why sometimes you will hear that a child kill his or parent, which can be attracted to drug,” he said.
He also recalled how the Kano state emirate council now embarked on drug test for anyone to be appointed as chief or district head in the state, saying the agency will in future commence drugs test for anyone seeking for either political office or any high position in the country.
Also speaking, the Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Shaban Audu Nizazo, who spoke on behalf of the 16 graded traditional rulers in the FCT, said there the need for traditional rulers to have a place in the country’s constitution where they can also have a role to play.
He said the traditional rulers are being treated as fire brigade fighters, saying “when people are dying, when there is insecurity and we people want to campaign, they go to the royal fathers but own our role as traditional rulers in this country are not being considered,” he said.
The monarch, however, noted that to become a traditional ruler, there are so many things attached to it, saying traditional rulers are closer to the people to tackle any problem in their domain’s.
Our correspondent report that highlights of the symposium was also the presentation of paper by MS Dada (Phd) of the Facility of education, University of Abuja, with the topic “Conflict uprooting, security and peace building: The Role of the traditional Institution.
Among dignitaries that attended the public lecture included the graded FCT traditional rulers, representatives of minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation and among other academicians as well as top politicians.
