Former chairman, Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu State, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has expressed hearty felicitations with His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, on his reinstatement ement as the Emir of Kano Emirate by the governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Comrade Onjeh opined that although royal fathers are expected to eschew partisanship in their stewardship and approach to issues generally, nonetheless, whenever the occasion demands, they must rise up and speak on behalf of the people they represent.Onjeh further stated that any attempt to gag or straitjacket any traditional leader will be totally undemocratic because as citizens, they equally enjoy fundamental rights as guaranteed by relevant sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including freedom of speech; provided what they say is not subversive to the state but in the overall interest of the state and its citizens.Furthermore, Comrade Onjeh, who was the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Benue South in the 2023 general election, stated that in recent times, traditional leaders across Nigeria are mostly very educated people, with some of them being notable professionals with impressive track records in their respective fields of endeavour before coming to serve their people in the traditional council. He added that some traditional leaders have also served their societies for very long, therefore, they are experienced enough to contribute to the development of the society.
“Therefore, if they have any idea or opinion that can contribute to the healthy growth and development of the society or nation, they should be free to express themselves.“How can we expect someone of His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s education, training, experience and exposure, a consummate economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, not to lend his voice to topical issues like the economy of Nigeria? In fact, he owes the country the patriotic responsibility of speaking up whenever things are going awry, or when anything threatens the peace, unity and development of the nation,” stated Onjeh
