Tinubu Plans To Make Traditional Rulers More Powerful

Traditional rulers in the country, by their positions are influential, but there are indications that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government plans to make them even more powerful.…CONTINUE READING

It is not clear yet how the planned elevation would fan out, but indications of increasing role for them was dropped today by the government.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu who gave the indication, said any country which ignored its traditional institutions did so at huge risks.

He spoke at the Palace of Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Odundun II in Akure, during a visit, saying there were consequences for such acquiescence.

Mr Issa-Onilu said it was because the country had in the past, underrated the importance of the traditional institution and traditional rulers that it has has a price to pay for that.

“But it is not too late to retrace our steps and go back to where we missed it and we are not trying to create a new Nigeria ,but we want to go back to real Nigeria,” he said.

According to the minister, any society that neglected the role of traditional rulers would also find itself where Nigeria currently had found itself.

Providing further elaboration, he referred to what he descried as National Life Charter, like a social contract which his agency was putting together.

The National Life Charter, Mr Issa-Onile posited, would seek to secure the expectations of the citizens alongside their contributions to the growth of the nation.

“The National Life Charter or National Value Charter is to institute a social contract where the citizens have certain expectations of the country and the country can now say, this are the responsibilities that we want from you as Nigerians.

“What President Bola Tinubu is saying is that we want patriotic Nigerians, good followers but at the same time, the country must play its role and this is not just going to be written in the book or constitution. It has to be well spelt out.

“So, as we are today, if you post the question to anybody that who is a Nigerian? There is no any clear definition for who a Nigerian is and citizen from country to country aren’t the same. So, something must define us,” he said.