President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the central role of Nigeria’s traditional rulers in promoting peace, stability, and national development, describing them as indispensable partners in his administration’s agenda.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the president made the remarks on Saturday at the annual Igede Agba Festival in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
The festival, first marked in 1957 at Ihigile Market, is an annual thanksgiving celebration for yam harvests by the Igede people, who constitute the third-largest ethnic group in Benue.
It has grown to become a cultural, social, and political gathering that underscores the values of unity and communal identity.
At this year’s edition, the federal government highlighted the importance of traditional institutions as instruments of grassroots peace-building, dispute resolution, and cultural preservation.
Officials stressed that traditional rulers remain crucial in addressing developmental challenges and mitigating communal tensions, particularly in conflict-prone areas such as the Middle Belt.
The presidency used the occasion to outline some of the benefits already extended to Benue under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including key federal appointments, infrastructural projects, and the award of the long-awaited Oju–Ogoja road contract.
The project was described as a major step toward improving connectivity and boosting economic activities in the region.
The Igede Traditional Council expressed gratitude to the federal government for its recognition of their cultural heritage and for addressing long-standing infrastructural needs. Community leaders also acknowledged the significance of the Oju–Ogoja road project, which they said would ease transportation challenges and enhance trade.
Beyond the festivities, the event reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between Nigeria’s traditional rulers and successive governments. Traditional leaders have historically played vital roles in maintaining order, mobilising communities, and supporting government efforts to combat insecurity.
Their involvement has become increasingly important amid challenges such as herder-farmer conflicts, communal clashes, and banditry in parts of the country.
By restating his administration’s commitment to empowering these institutions at the Igede Agba Festival, President Tinubu signalled a renewed focus on grassroots engagement as a pathway to peace, unity, and sustainable national progress.
