Shun sentiments, Royal Father enjoins Nigerians

By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka

The Chief of Jiwa Chiefdom in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Royal Highness (HRH) Idris Musa has advised those in his domain and Nigeria in general to shun sentiments of all forms.

He said that shunning sentiments would not only promote unity of purpose among Nigerians, but also move the country forward.

The royal father gave the advice to Nigerians as Year 2024 message at the recently marked 2023 Jiwa Annual Festival in the ancient city on Tuesday.

He said: “My message to Nigerians is that we should shun sentiments.

We should shun religious and tribal sentiments and look after the traditional institutions. We should also shun political malpractices and have Nigeria’s interest at heart, because Nigeria’s interest should be first, before any other interest and we should be our brothers’ keepers, that is my message to them.”

While appreciating the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), His Excellency Abdulahi Umar Ganduje for making out time to come and chair the occasion, he described the former Kano state governor as a grassroot politician who has contributed positively to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

Responding to a question on the roles of traditional rulers in their domains, Idris Musa responded that it is the duty of the traditional rulers, as ambassador to embrace all the people and promote unity as a father to all, devoid of discrimination and tribalism, even as he informed that it was one of the reasons they mark the festival yearly.

Earlier in a speech, Ganduja as the chairman of the occasion commended the Chief of Jiwa for the festival, saying that such would go a long way to promote culture, tradition and unity between the indigenes themselves as well as between them and their host tribes. Describing Jiwa as one of the ancient and peaceful cities in the FCT, the executive chairman of Kwali Area Council in the FCT spoke at length on the need to be promoting culture, as well as having regard for the traditional institute.