No fewer than 104 graded and upgraded traditional rulers have received staff of office in Kogi State.

Amongst those handed their Staff of office includes; thirty one first class, thirty second class and fourty three third class chiefs in Kogi State.

Making the presentation in Lokoja on Saturday at the President Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre Lokoja, Governor Yahaya Bello said the upgrade is in consonance with his administration’s commitment to accord the traditional institution a pride of place.

Gov. Bello described the place of the traditional institution in maintaining peace and security as very vital, urging the traditional rulers to sustain the peace and security in their domain.

Bello assured that his administration will continue to work with the traditional institution in achieving peace and security, just as he described the traditional rulers as God’s representatives on earth.

The Governor described the Traditional Rulers as owners of the land, just as he promised to continue to work with them in making the State the most peaceful in the country.

He said his administration has made fairness, equity and justice in the appointment and upgrade of the traditional rulers, as the governor promised to look into the pending request for appointment and upgrade of pending traditional rulers.

While pointing out that he will continue to advocate for the inclusion of the Traditional institution in politics and governance in Nigeria, Bello said he has made them part and parcel of his New Direction Administration.

Gov. Bello thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for sending a delegation to the occasion, assuring that he will continue to work with the traditional rulers in the state, towards ensuring that the state remains top as the most Peaceful and secured in the country.

The Governor disclosed that on assumption of office he met an in-secured state, which lacks development in all ramification.

The Governor used the occasion to call on other States in the country to come and learn from the state‘s security architecture that has made it peaceful and secured, congratulated all the graded and upgraded Chiefs in the State.

In his remarks at the occasion, President Mohammadu Buhari, represented by Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, Minister for Police Affairs, praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for the pride of place he has given to the traditional institution.

He described the acceptance of the newly graded and upgraded chiefs as an indication of a cordial relationship existing between the government and the traditional institution, urging him to sustained the working relationship towards development.

Earlier in a welcome remarks, Barr. Salami Ozigi, the Honourable Commissioner For Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, said the efforts to give the desired attention to the traditional institution is because of the important role the play in the maintenance of peace and security.

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  Atta Igala, Governor Yahaya Bello, Kogi State, Kogi State Government, Lokoja, Staff of Office, Traditional Rulers