Kunle Adelabu
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Opomulero (Pillar) of Ikorodu Kingdom, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, has called for more roles for traditional rulers in the State.
He also called for collaboration between government and the traditional institutions to ensure development.
The ranking lawmaker made the call when speaking with THE IMPACT at the Ayangbure palace during the celebration of the 5th Coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, at the palace on Sunday, August 2, 2020.
“Traditionally rulers need to play prominent roles in community development because in the days that preceded colonialism, every community operated a traditional system of governance, which is similar to the democracy we now have in some cases”, the Opomulero of Ikorodu Kingdom recalled.
“There were Kingmakers, Obas – in – Council that intervened in crises. They had policies and also enforced disciplines. There were traditional laws and they had people enforcing them”.
Hon. Agunbiade who stated that traditional rulers form an integral part of the society, also called for more critical roles for them.
“Traditional rulers should play critical roles in the society and we must not do anything to play down their roles because they formed an integral part of the society and they should collaborate with the government and vice versa.
He also called for more encouragement and recognition for the traditional rulers in ensuring that they discharge their roles in achieving peace and security in the society.
“Immediate traditional settings and happenings must be taken care of by the traditional rulers and they must be encouraged to discharge these roles. When we hold them in high esteem and we give them room to participate in community developments, I am sure that every where will be peaceful”, he said.
“At a time, the Lagos State Government uplifted the standard of palaces as a way of encouraging them and letting people know that the Obas are important in the setting of the state.
“I want to say that there should be collaboration between the traditional system and the democratic system. They should work together”, he said.
Speaking on the Coronation anniversary of Oba Shotobi, Hon. Agunbiade described the reign of the monarch in the last five years as progressive.
“Oba Shotobi is a God chosen Oba for lkorodu. There would have been a very big gap left behind by late Oba Oyefusi, but the emergence of Oba Shotobi filled the vacuum created. His reign has been very progressive. The development of Ikorodu has been very important to him. You will always see him here and there talking about it”, he said.
“He has been able to foster peace and unity among residents, both indigenes and non – indigenes.
“He has also been able to unite the Muslim, Christians and traditionalists together to the extent that Ikorodu has been peaceful as far as religion is concern. All the religions are playing their roles in engendering peace and development in Ikorodu and this is an evidence of the competence of an Oba whose kingdom is very peaceful”, he stated while acknowledging the role of Oba Shotobi in uniting different sections of his Kingdom.
He also commended the Kabiyesi’s role in ensuring security in Ikorodu by facilitating collaboration and cooperation among and between conventional security agencies and local vigilance systems.
He added that the monarch is always ready to get what is best for the Ikorodu Division by mobilizing stakeholders.
“I also know the critical roles he has been playing regarding security. He has been able to collaborate with necessary security agencies to attain the present peace that we have in Ikorodu.
“As a very progressive Oba, kabiyesi always wants to get for Ikorodu the best that Ikorodu should have. Look at where we are today (palace extension building), it was built by the Kabiyesi through mobilization of his people in Ikorodu”, he said.
The Lagos Majority Leader also described the institution of free interest loan by the Ayangbure as part of progressive acts of Oba Shotobi whom he also said complemented government’s efforts in driving developments in his domain.
“The issue of loan that kabiyesi is giving to traders is also part of the progressive tendencies of Kabiyesi and it also shows that he’s always ready to contribute to the progress and development of Ikorodu and its people rather than waiting for the government to do it alone”, Agunbiade said.
“He always wants to collaborate with the government to attract more developments to Ikorodu.
“He has been able to relate with the government of the day to attract dividends of democracy to his people. He does not always wait for the government to do everything but always plays his role and uses that to facilitate government’s interventions.
“He is an Oba who takes from his resources to develop his people and Kingdom. He has done wonderfully well for Ikorodu and we thank God that today, we are marking the fifth year anniversary of his coronation. We wish him a long life and continuous peace in his reign and God will grant him super health”.
