By Emmanuel Onwusoro
The role of the traditional institution should be seen as fundamental in the governance of any nation and enshrined in the constitution.
An Ekiti royal father, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, the headquarters of Araromi Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, expressed this in an interview with journalists in his palace.
He said though, the roles of the traditional rulers are being recognized, there is need for such to be specifically enunciated and encapsulated in the country’s constitution. This he stressed should ensure that the traditional institution is not relegated to the backwaters or unduly subjugated under any of the arms of government.
“After gods, it is the Kabiyesis. It is the Kabiyesis that are the temple of administration. So to make it more effective, government should find a way of making laws to see how they can involve traditional rulers in governance to enable them to be more effective and more responsive to situations especially security”.
Oba Ajakaiye believes that it is the monarchs that are conversant with the nooks and crannies of their domains.
According to him,”if a stranger is coming, they know what to do. But where the traditional institution is incapacitated to mobilize or even to stage or wage a war against the criminals, there is going to be problem”.
On the forthcoming Iyin Day celebration, the royal father described it as a day that will bring Iyin sons and daughters together from home and in the diaspora.
He said it will be an avenue for the indigenes to brainstorm with a view to charting ways for the development of the community. While a two hundred-million naira fund is expected to be raised to spearhead development projects and renovation of the palace.
“This is the first event that we may have ample opportunity to host. The event equally marks the first to celebrate since I ascended the throne in September 2020 when I was given the staff of office. The Iyin Day holds every first Saturday of November every year.
“Some people will be conferred with chieftaincy titles. We are honouring some notable people, not within the town only but also outside the town. There are awards too. We identify some indigenes for awards. Those who have contributed to the development of the town”.
Holding his maiden coronation anniversary in September 2021, Oba Ajakaiye remarked that ascending the throne has been a mixed-grill, full of ups and downs. but was optimistic that the challenges are being sorted out. Adding that, “it’s normal that those who didn’t get what they were gunning for, will not find it easy to align with us. So we have some challenges within the town. But thank God we have been able to get over them. Peace has been maintained. And this has continued to ensure some progress. Iyin is peaceful compared to other towns”.
The first-class traditional ruler commended the government in the State, majorly for the creation of LCDAs through which Iyin was made the headquarters of Araromi LCDA. Adding that since then, the take away from that is that governance has been brought closer to the grassroots. To him, the effect is being seen and felt. “Before this time,for decades we knew we had local governments, but with this creation of LCDAs, market stalls have been constructed, erosion is being controlled, culverts were being constructed. We commend the government that out of their own wisdom they created the councils and we just appeal to the federal government to complete the process so that it can be more constitutional. It can be more open.”
The monarch appreciated God for the emergence of one of the sons of the town as the Senate Leader in the National Assembly.
On the situations in Nigeria, the monarch said a renewed hope is on course despite the economic challenges, pointing out that, “you don’t gain if you don’t feel some pain. Despite all these economic downturn, with time we believe that everything will come back to normal. For us to repair, we need to pass some phase and it will affect the country. Both the national and state governments are focused. They know all they need to do, and they are just doing them”.
He appealed for patience with the government, reiterating that there is renewed hope in the economic reforms the government is trying to put in place so that the economic woes can go, describing the scenario as not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but a global phenomenon that can be straightened out for better society.
On developments in the community, he said everyone was elated over some announcements by the federal government for ear-marking some projects for execution for the town. He attributed the delay to the take off to paper work and adherence to due process. Am aware that visitation has been done. “We are waiting patiently and pray that it will not be one of those announcements that we will not see. So we are hoping and waiting for work to start in earnest.”
He appreciated the present government in the state for giving the local governments and the LCDAs free-hand. There might be shortfall in funding, but we still realize that the local governments have free hand to whatever they want to do. “The way and manner the governor is steering the ship of the State, we are happy and could be happier if there are enough funds for him to handle things. The governor has done well in terms of his dealing with people. His human approach to issues is a plus for him”.
Oba Ajakaiye urged the governments at both the state and federal levels to improve on the provision of dividends of democracy in terms of physical infrastructure such as good roads, portable water, electricity, health, education among others.