…Says palace access does not amount to political endorsement
By Our Reporter
Dr Mohammed K. Santuraki, a senior All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder in Niger and Santurakin Nupe, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against politicising traditional institutions in the state.
Santuraki, a prince of the Bida Emirate, said access to royal palaces and the receipt of royal blessings should not be interpreted as endorsements of political ambitions or candidatures.
He gave the warning in a statement on Tuesday in reaction to claims by the PDP governorship candidate in Niger, Alhaji Muhammad Nami, that he had consulted prominent elders and secured the support and blessings of traditional rulers across the state’s eight emirates.
Santuraki said such claims could create the impression that traditional rulers had endorsed Nami’s candidature or that of a political party.
He maintained that traditional rulers in the state, under the leadership of the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, remained above partisan political interests.
“As a senior prince of the Bida Emirate and a stakeholder in the political affairs of Niger State, I consider it necessary to challenge any suggestion that our revered traditional rulers have, collectively or individually, endorsed his candidature or that of any political party or candidate.
“Our traditional rulers are fathers to all, not political patrons to a few,” he said.
Santuraki stressed that the willingness of traditional rulers to receive politicians and other members of the public should not be misconstrued as support for their political ambitions.
“Access to a royal palace is not a political endorsement. Receiving royal blessings is not an electoral mandate. And the goodwill of our traditional rulers must never be appropriated for partisan advantage,” he said.
He warned that claims of royal endorsements could generate suspicion, misunderstanding and unnecessary tension between traditional institutions and the democratically elected government of Niger.
Santuraki also cautioned against allowing partisan political manoeuvring to undermine the cordial relationship between traditional rulers and the administration of Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago.
According to him, traditional institutions and the state government have distinct but complementary responsibilities in promoting peace, stability and development.
He said traditional rulers were responsible for preserving peace, unity and cultural identity, as well as promoting the welfare, security and development of their subjects, irrespective of political affiliation.
Santuraki urged Nami and other political aspirants to exercise restraint and responsibility in public statements concerning their relationships with traditional rulers.
He said political competition was legitimate but should not come at the expense of the dignity, neutrality and integrity of traditional institutions.
“Let politicians seek their mandates from the electorate, not manufacture political endorsements from the palaces of our royal fathers,” he said.
He added that political contests should be determined by candidates’ ideas, competence and programmes rather than claims of royal support.
“Our traditional rulers belong to all of us. Their thrones must remain above partisan politics, and their moral authority must never be diminished by the ambitions of those seeking elective office,” Santuraki said.
He called on political actors to protect the peace and unity of Niger, stressing that the collective interests of the state should take precedence over the ambitions of individuals or political parties.
