The Lowa Adimula of Ile-Ife, Oba Ademola Adeyeye, has declared that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, holds an unparalleled position among Yoruba traditional rulers, describing him as the spiritual and traditional father of the Yoruba people.
Speaking during a media parley at his palace in Ile-Ife as part of activities marking his 70th birthday celebration, Oba Adeyeye emphasized that the Ooni is not in competition with any monarch within Yorubaland.
“Ooni cannot be compared with any other traditional ruler. He is their father both traditionally and spiritually,” the revered royal stated.
The Lowa Adimula also addressed the growing security challenges in Nigeria, attributing much of the crisis to the sidelining of traditional institutions in national security architecture.
“Our government is behind the insecurity in this country. Removing traditional institutions from the security structure of communities is a direct path to failure,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to act swiftly in assigning constitutional roles to traditional rulers, insisting that their inclusion is critical to effectively addressing insecurity using grassroots-based solutions.
“It is time government gives traditional rulers a pragmatic role in securing the country. This is the best way forward,” he added.
Oba Ademola’s comments have reignited calls for the recognition of traditional leadership in Nigeria’s governance framework, especially in matters of security and community development.
Comments