The Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji have asked the federal government to accord the nations traditional rulers the recognition they deserved by assigning them not only advisory role, but participatory role in decision and policy making in the affairs of the country.
The two foremost monarchs stated that the days of using traditional rulers by politicians to get what they want were no longer fashionable in modern day society.
According to the two monarchs, the federal government must desist from using traditional rulers as fire fighters.
They bared their minds when the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Sanusi paid a courtesy call at the Popoyemoja , Ibadan palace of the Olubadan on Monday.
Alhaji Sanusi who expressed delight at his first visit to the Olubadan since his enthronement as the Olubadan of Ibadanland over two years ago, had prayed for longevity and sound health for the 90 years old monarch, adding that the Olubadan is a unique personality.
He called for greater role for traditional rulers in governance to move the country to greater height.
While recalling the giant strides of some industrious sons of Ibadan in the development of the ancient city, the Emir of Kano particularly praised late Aware Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, and Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu aka Penkelemess for their immense contributions to the growth and development of Ibadanland.
In the same vein, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Adetunji corroborated the submissions of the Emir of Kano, calling on the Federal government to accord dignified roles to traditional rulers in the governance of the country.
Oba Adetunji who spoke through one of his chiefs, the Agbaakin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi described the role of traditional roles in the country as very crucial to maintenance of peace, development and unification of all ethnic nationalities that formed the entity.
He said ” I thanked you for remembering the memories of Adegoke Adelabu, and Aare Musulumi of Yorubalandland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, great sons of Ibadanland. I what to mention that Ibadanland is also a city of Commerce like Kano . A city of valiance and people of courage, hospitality and vision, many too numerous to mention.
” I thank you also for mentioning the former executive director of First Bank and Deputy Director of Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) , the All Progressive Congress gubernatorial candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who is the grandson of one of Nigeria’s earliest nationalist , Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu , Penkelemess , Nigeria’s first Federal Minister of Natural Resources, Social Welfare . And as you have said, Your Highness, you will continue to wax strong and strong and strongest by the grace of God. Your Highness, you also mention one of the resolutions at the last meeting at the last meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers held in Abuja, I was fortunate to attend the last meeting and the previous one by the grace of the Olubadan and one of the resolutions was the point you raised that traditional rulers should serve not only advisory role but participatory role in policy making and decision.
“It was discussed in Abuja that traditional rulers should not be turned to fire fighters. When there is need for political leadership to get to the people they will turn to palaces.
“When they want to do national consensus like population census, like vaccinations then they will go to palaces they will turn to Kabiyesis , Emirs, obis and so on to reach the people . So, that is also noted. And since you have come to the first university in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan on the invitation of the Sigma Club, they came here two weeks ago for the invitation of the Olubadan and we are happy that kabiyesi the Olubadan is one of the royal guests. We pray that Sigma Club will continue to carry the flag of the founding fathers over 50 years ago.”
