Traditional rulers in Kogi State on Wednesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and told him they were no longer content with the Minister of State’s slot.
According to them, their status in the federal cabinet has to be upgraded and they specifically demanded the Minister of Finance post.
They were led bythe Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni, the President Kogi State Council of Chiefs, the monarchs also asked Buhari to support Governor Yahaya Bello for his second term bid.
The Obaru of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, addressed the press on behalf of the delegation.
Owoniyi said: “We came for three basic things, one to felicitate with and congratulate him for winning the last general elections. We congratulated him because the election was so hectic and so many Nigerians were confused; they didn’t know what to do. But to God be the glory at the end of the day, the president came back for the second term and his mandate was revalidated by most Nigerians especially in Kogi State.
“Secondly, we came to pray for him because this last lap is very critical in the chequered history of Nigeria and it is our wish and prayer that all the aspirations of Mr. President will come to fruition without much rancour.
“Thirdly, like the chairman of the traditional rulers, Attah of Igala, said, we have come to upgrade what he called the shopping list. Since we voted for the president and as usual like Oliver Twist, we must demand our rights; we decided to upgrade the list of our demands from Kogi State. I’m pleased to inform you, ladies and gentlemen, that Mr. President has graciously alluded to most of our requests and has told us to go home and tell our people that he has us at the back of his mind and that he was going to approach most of these issues as they come.
”…So we are confident that with this Federal government, we are going to have a good deal with it and by the grace of God since we are supporting Mr. President, it is natural and normal for him to pay us back in the right coins. So, we are happy to announce to our people at home that Mr President has promised to treat us very well. Like the chairman of our traditional council said, we are not comfortable with Minister of State; so our status in the federal cabinet must be upgraded to a full-fledged minister and by the grace of God Minister of Finance.”
