Its Director-General, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, gave the advice when he received a delegation led by the Olujumu of Ijumu land in Kogi State, Oba Williams Olusegun, at the Nigerian Culture House, on Friday in Abuja.
Runsewe, in a statement, said the traditional rulers should be recognised and assigned constitutional roles of Chief Security Officers to tackle the problem of crime and youth restiveness.
“For the rate of crime and criminality, youth restiveness to take a downward turn in our society, the traditional institutions should be recognised and assigned constitutional roles of chief security officers of their various domains,” he said.
Runsewe noted that as the primary custodian of culture and tradition, the traditional rulers play a very vital role of maintaining peace in their various community.
He said the traditional institution is the closest to the grassroots which makes it possible for the traditional rulers to easily detect trouble spots and violence and curb them from escalation
He explained that the high rate of crime and criminality in various parts of the country stemmed from the fast eroding norms, culture and tradition of the people.
“As primary custodians of our various tradition and culture, the traditional rulers will make out traditional institutions a veritable springboard for cultural reorientation for our teeming youths who have gone under the wild influence of westernisation,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Oba Olusegun expressed profound gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded him and members of his entourage.
He said before the advent of Christianity in Ijumu kingdom, tradition and culture played key roles in the administration of the Kingdom but regretted that most of the beliefs, customs and traditions of the people of his kingdom had been lost.
He noted that on his assumption to the throne of his forefathers, the need to reintroduce the lost culture and traditions of the people came to the front burner.
The traditional ruler said the delegation were in Runsewe’s office to invite him officially to the first ever indigenous Ijumu Cultural Festival coming up on November 4, at the Ojumu Palace, Iyara in Kogi State.
He said this was necessary as the Director General remained an icon and ambassador of the Nigerian culture.
NAN
