Ojikutu advocates removal of power of governors to appoint, sack traditional rulers
By FORMER deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, has advocated the removal of power to appoint traditional rulers by the government from the Constitution so that approval of the appointment of obas, emirs, Igwes, among others will revert to their inherited traditional approving authority in their locality.
Ojikutu made the call in a statement made available to Tribune Online, saying the call became necessary in order to ensure that the traditional rulers and chiefs were not subjected to the patronage of governors or fears that they could be removed from office if they refused to support for election unpopular candidates imposed by governors and political godfathers, who would always want to impose unpopular candidates on them during elections, failure of which to back such candidates might earn them .
According to her, the inability of traditional rulers to let the elected political office holders feel the pulse of the people has been the bane of delivery of good projects, among others to the people, saying that the patronage some traditional rulers received also had not allowed them to give sound advise without fear or favour that would enhance good governance.
Besides, Ojikutu, who recalled that her late father, a prince, had in the early 50s advised “our forefathers” not to accept the salary system, but keep to their earnings from agriculture and trading in line with the adage: “he who pays the piper will dictate the tune,” said stripping the state governors of the power would bring honour and glory to the traditional institution, while it would engender growth and development to the country.
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“I believe by removing this authority the elected political leaders will be able to feel the pulse of their people through sincere advise and admonitions from the rulers so that some home-truths can hold sway to bring back the honour and glory to the traditional institution, while it will engender growth and development to our land—with the system return to inherited Traditional approving authority.
“The present authorisation and removal power possessed by the government has made traditional rulers that should be neutral and seek the best for their people subservient and appendages of government in power to the detriment of good governance,” the former deputy governor said.
Alhaja Ojikutu maintained that this is one change that would go a long way to restore sanity and sanctity to the traditional institution against a system that which had made them subservient.
“If Nigerians want truly positive change in the land and not self-serving lip service changes, this is one change that will go a long way to restore sanity and sanctity to our traditional institution from that which has made them subservient.
“It’s disheartening to see royal father’s who should be on the side of their subjects siding with oppressors of the masses because of the sense of insecurities of their tenure,” she said.
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