By ABIODUN LAWAL

The Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council has backed President Bola Tinubu, vowing strong support for his efforts to tackle rising insecurity in some parts of the country.

The Ooni of Ife and Permanent Chairman of the council, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, said this on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen after a meeting with the 17 governors of southern Nigeria.

The meeting took place at the Iperu Remo private residence of Gov. Dapo Abiodun, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum.

Ogunwusi hailed the president’s zeal and prompt response to the rescue of recently abducted school children and worshippers.

He said that their deliberations focused mainly on how the royal fathers could mobilise public support to work with the government in ending activities that threaten the nation’s peace.

The traditional ruler said there was no time for blame games, division, or arguments, but rather a need for everyone to rise and support President Tinubu in tackling the challenge of insecurity.

According to him, President Tinubu has displayed firm, responsible leadership against insecurity, which led the southern traditional rulers to pass a vote of confidence to spur him to further action.

“The traditional institutions being the closest to the people, we came from the 17 states covering the entire southern Nigeria and our governors are equally at the meeting to chart a better course for the nation and the generations yet unborn.

“What is critical to us is to pass a vote of confidence on president Bola Tinubu; he is doing a lot and we can’t afford to leave him alone because Nigeria is bigger than all of us.

“He is currently the president, and we all need to support him; he is our leader right now and we need to pass vote of confidence on him.

“We should not divide ourselves; this is the time all of us must come together, it is a very strong external threat. Irrespective of the talk about north and south, Nigeria is Nigeria.

“We remain the closest to our people and we shall continue to engage our people and confront this challenge headlong. Once we deal with the external enemies, then we can deal with those operating from the inside.

“So, for us, it’s a very critical issue and majorly what dominated our discussion today is security issue,” Ogunwusi said.

Meanwhile, a communiqué issued at the end of the Joint meeting of southern governors’ forum and the southern Nigeria traditional rulers council, stated that the forum supported a regional security architecture.

The forum also resolved to enhance regional and local security outfits including hunter associations and community-based surveillance units through the provision of equipment, logistics and operational support.

In a strong demonstration of unity, the forum and the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers’ Council jointly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, in recognition of his leadership and unwavering commitment to national stability and reform. (NAN)

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