Kaltungo Cultural Festival: Traditional rulers advocate special prayer

Traditional leaders from the North East region of the country have called for sustained prayers against insecurity in the region and Nigeria at large.

The royal fathers made the appeal at the 2021 Kaltungo carnival held in Kaltungo community of Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State on Monday.

The Royal Father of the Day, who is also the Emir of Fika and Chairman of Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Muhammad Idrissa, said intensified prayers were needed to complement efforts towards addressing the challenge of insecurity in the North East.

Idrissa stated that peace remained the key to having development and a better society, noting that insecurity and crimes were enemies of any society.

The first class traditional ruler also charged the people to live in peace, while jettisoning acts that could threaten peaceful coexistence in the country.

Ahead the 2023 general elections, the Emir urged Nigerians, particularly youths, to shun violence while refusing any attempt to be used by selfish politicians as thugs.

He further called on the people to promote the politics of peace while urging them to elect leaders of their choices when the time comes.

On his part, the host, the Mai Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammad, said prayers were needed to complement Government’s efforts at winning the war against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity and criminality in the country.

Muhammad also urged the people of Gombe state to continue to live in peace while promoting issues that would strengthen unity in the state and the country at large.

Muhammad, who is also the Deputy Chairman, Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, thanked the State Government and all security agencies for efforts made so far to sustain peace.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kaltungo cultural festival is a yearly event organised to showcase as well as promote the rich cultural heritage of the people of Kaltungo Chiefdom in Gombe state.

The event is also held to enhance social interaction, promote peace, unity while strengthening cooperation amongst the diverse ethnic groups within and outside the state.