Ladi Adebutu Hosts Ogun 75 Coronet Obas, Advocates Constitutional Roles For Traditional Institution

Ladi Adebutu

ABEOKUTA - A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state and a former member of the House of Representatives  Hon. Ladi Adebutu on Sunday played host to the embattled 75 coronet monarchs in Ogun State with a call for constitutional clear-cut roles for traditional rulers in Nigeria's constitution towards community and national development.

Hon. Adebutu noted that, assigning constitutional roles to traditional rulers would revive the Local government system which according to him had failed due to overbearing interference from the State Governors.

He insisted that, the traditional institutions are "the anchor of a better Nigeria".

Adebutu stated this when representatives of the 75 embattled traditional rulers who were sacked by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun paid him a visit on Saturday in Iperu Remo to seek his father's (Sir Keshington Adebutu) intervention with Paramount Rulers and the governor over their reinstallation.

Former governor Ibikunle Amosun had upgraded the 75 village heads to Coronet Obas, nine days to the expiration of his administration.

But, Abiodun on assumption of office, set up a committee which reviewed and recommended that the promotion of the traditional rulers from village heads to traditional rulers be reversed.

On February, Abiodun announced the demotion of the Obas, as recommended by the committee chaired by the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.

But, not satisfied, the 75 Obas in 2019 dragged the governor and other officials of the State government to court, seeking their reinstatement and payment of their entitlements.

The visit of the Obas to Adebutu followed the  State High court judgement affirming the appointment of the 75 coronet Obas.

Adebutu argued that Nigeria can only go back to her good old days if traditional rulers were properly recognised and given specific roles in the constitution.

He said, "There is no way Nigeria will go back it her old good days without the help of our traditional institutions. Our traditional institutions are the anchor of a better Nigeria.

"We will not go back to the good old days without you (traditional rulers) being properly and well established today, that is why every time, I savour you, I appreciate you and I pray to God that, some day, we will arrive at a position where you will be well embedded in the government where you will play a proper role in good governance.

"Traditionally, the constitution says a lot of things at the local government level that the chieftancy position is supposed to occupy, the roles that it should occupy, but the constitution is not too clear and definitive, but with discretion, we can apply these things even as it is correctly, but the truth of the matter is that, the third tier of government which is the local government has failed expect one who wants to apply it.

"Today, we no longer have a local government system, when the local government system has failed, what can we now say about the traditional institutions?"

Speaking to journalists after the meet, the secretary of the monarchs, who is also the Olu of Ipebi, Ijebu-Imushin, Oba Tanimowo Folarin David said the meeting was to seek Sir Keshington Adebutu's intervention with Paramount Rulers for their recognition as traditional rulers after winning the court case.

"When this kind of issue is coming up, you need to reach out to people who can mediate, who can intervene and talk to our Paramount Rulers at least we are their children", he said.

When asked if he was aware of the appeal by the State government, Tanimowo said, "As far as I'm concerned, I have not been served any appeal notice. If there is going to be any appeal, personally as the leading person in the case, I will be served and up till this present moment, I have not been served and I don't have any idea about the appeal".