Welfare Of Our Traditional Rulers Remain Sacrosanct – Gov. Abiodun

BY Ademola Orunbon

ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the provision of adequate welfare packages for the traditional institution to motivate them towards entrenching the desired development at the grassroots.

The Governor who stated this at the Third Statutory Meetings of the Ogun State Council of Obas, held at Conference Hall, Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said, Obas, as custodians of tradition and customs has a vital role to play in government, and that their welfare  should be of paramount and sacrosanct.

Abiodun added that his government would be fair, equitable and inclusive in the spread of developmental projects in all the three senatorial districts of the State, noting that some of the projects have been completed while some are at different completion stages, which would soon be commissioned.

“Our decision would be fair, equitable, inclusive and in accordance with the rule of law as we spread the developmental projects in all the three districts of the State, no constituency in this State will not benefit from the developmental stride of this administration, it is our collective responsibility to develop the State, in order to attract more investors,” Abiodun said.

He solicited for the traditional ruler’s support for the realization of various laudable and people-oriented programmes embarked upon across the nooks and crannies of the State, calling for their cooperation in curbing the spread of the second wave of Covid-19 in the State through the admonition of their subjects to always observe the Covid-19 protocols by wearing of nose mask and uses of hand sanitizers.

Abiodun admonished the Monarchs to be more accessible and receptive to their people, and intensifying efforts on activities that could further enhance peaceful co-existence within and around the State, saying that their cooperation with the Government would enhance the spread of the dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the State.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape, disclosed that efforts are underway to repeal the existing Ogun State Council of Obas Law, 2004 for a more comprehensive one that would reform and further dignify the traditional institution in the State.

He said the review became expedient and imperative in order to address the incessant litigations on chieftaincy matters in the State, noting that adherence to due process in the installation of Obas and promotion of Stools, burial rites, regulation of activities of Kingmakers as well as the need for the creation of a Chieftaincy Tribunal would soon to fore.

Hon. Afuape hinted that inputs of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs towards the formation of an improved Council of Obas Law were being collated by the Ogun State House of Assembly for prompt passage and endorsement by the Governor, once it has been perfected and would be made known to the general publics.

He added that the Ministry this year, planned to develop archival division with e-library complement to allow the Ministry to update information on all royal fathers and provide same on the information superhighway as well as ensure prompt dissemination and seamless access to stored facts and data, particularly such that relates to culture, tradition and heritage whenever and wherever required by individuals, government, communities and the traditional institutions as well.

The Chairman of the Council, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, represented by the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi in his address appreciated the Government for its usual support for the traditional council, assuring their unalloyed support in the overall development of the State at large.