Ooni Canvasses Constitutional Roles for Traditional Rulers

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has called on the National Assembly to fashion out constitutional responsibilities that are developmental for traditional rulers in Nigeria, saying they are closer to the people than government.

The monarch is the spiritual leader and the most influential traditional monarch among the Yoruba people of Nigeria’s southwest.

Speaking when he paid courtesy call on the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari in Ilorin, on Wednesday 10, 2016, Oba Ogunwusi also said he was ready to cooperate with the Emir in the interest of development of Nigeria, adding that his mission was based on spirit of love, unity and development.

Oba Ogunwusi, who said people first come to traditional rulers when problem arises, added that they should be honoured and accorded roles to encourage peaceful coexistence.

“For developments that are genuine and people-oriented, the National Assembly should evolve constitutional responsibilities that are development oriented for our traditional rulers so that everybody will have a taste of the government.

This will far more effective because our traditional rulers are closer to the people than the government”, the monarch said.

While he called for unity among traditional rulers across the country, he urged them to concentrate on issues that unite people than what could divide them.

“If we focus on matters that are common to us, with this in our subconscious nature, we will know that we are one and from one God”, he said.

Also speaking, the Emir of Ilorin commended hands of fellowship being extended by the Ooni across Nigeria and beyond, saying that, “ln Islamic parlance, kings are molded in the shadow of Almighty God.”

The Emir also said that Nigerians are brothers and sisters, calling on Nigerian leaders to imbibe spirit of oneness for the country to grow in unity.

He described Kwara State and Ilorin, in particular, as strategic geographical location in the country, saying that the unique position of the location between the North and South should be exploited for unity of the country.