Osun monarch advocates constitutional power for traditional rulers
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Alabere of Abere-Ede Kingdom, Osun State, Oba Adefemi Mutalib Adelakin, on Saturday, called for the provision of constitutional power to traditional rulers in Nigeria.
The Alabere made this call in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in his ultra-modern palace in Abere.
The traditional ruler said that traditional institutions have come of age and should have statutory roles to complement the government in tackling insecurity and other socio-economic issues.
The Alabere said such development would help to fast-track the desired transformation, especially in remote villages and communities.
Oba Adelakin said further that the call for such constitutional responsibility was informed by recent security developments in the country.
The royal father said the traditional rulers are always the first point of contact in cases of kidnapping, rape, theft and other acts in the communities.
The famous monarch noted that such constitutional roles would assist traditional rulers with wide powers to adjudicate on some civil matters.
This, he noted, became necessary to complement the work of the Judiciary in reducing the number of awaiting trials and decongest correctional centres.
The Alabere decried the situation whereby the traditional rulers, regarded as the closest to the grassroots, are not always represented at critical and crucial security meetings at both state and federal levels.
The monarch, therefore, expressed the need for the review of the nation’s constitution to accommodate the required legal framework in giving them such responsibility.
“Traditional rulers are the closest to the people, especially at the grassroots and therefore needed to be adequately empowered to administer in their various domains.
“I also want to call on the government to prioritize local council autonomy to allow it to carry out its constitutional functions which will help in reducing the level of insecurity in the country.
“The local council is the closest to rural people and it is the only way to ensure that people enjoy the benefits of democracy by granting autonomy to the local council” Alabere added.
The monarch, however, promised to continue to pursue the upliftment of the ancient Abere-Ede Community in all ramifications, calling on Governor Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke’s led administration in the state to collaborate with him in expanding and in his efforts to turn the community to a small London for investors.