Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare ll, has called on the government to consider giving constitutional roles to traditional rulers.
He also called on the Federal Government to assist the Edo State Government to tackle its security challenge.
The traditional ruler made the calls when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A copy of the speech he read at the meeting he had with Buhari behind closed doors was later made available to journalists.
He said, “Traditional rulers in the country play stabilising and developmental roles in the country particularly when there is crisis brewing at the grassroots.
“It is sad that the role of traditional rulers has yet to be reflected in the constitution of the country.
“Nigeria is a country strongly rooted in cultural blues and norms. May I use this opportunity to reassure government that traditional institutions will be used to strengthen the unity and development of Nigeria.
“The traditional institution will encourage Nigerians to go on with one Nigeria. We intend to continue to use culture to foster Nigeria image both in Nigeria and in the comity of nations.”
However, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, after the President received the Benin monarch at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said the framers of the nation’s constitution could have deliberated left out roles for traditional rulers in order to preserve their neutrality.
“I know and respect the traditional institution. I try as much as possible to understand why the authors of our constitution kept silent about their role. This was probably the best way to preserve their neutrality,” the President said.
Buhari expressed delight with the stabilising roles that the Eweka Dynasty of Benin Kingdom had been playing in the affairs of the country.
He said Nigerians had reasons to be proud of the stabilising roles Benin chiefs had played from the colonial era to the current period, not only in the Delta region but the entire country.
Apart from seeking help on the state’s security challenge, the monarch also called for the completion of the Benin -Auchi Road dualisation project.
He regretted that despite the efforts of some Non-Governmental Organisations, cases of human trafficking were not reducing in the state.
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