Ogun Governor, Traditional Rulers and the Derision of Culture

It is heart warming that the so-called rift behind the Executive Governor of Ogun State and the traditional of ruler of Egba land has been laid to rest through an exchange of visits by both the Alake of Egba land and his Excellency, Chief Gbenga Daniel.

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It was eye catching that the Kabiyesi had to quickly visit the Excellency in his office before the matter could be resolved. His Excellency too, paid back by calling on the Kabiyesi and announcing to the whole that the rift between him - the Executive Governor, and royal King of Egba land was over.

The settlement sounds very good to all lovers of peace and especially to those of who genuinely cherish the tradition and culture. The rumor out there was that the Governor was on the move to remove the Kabiyesi from his hard earned throne of his fathers, and one should not blame the royal Highness for pouring cool waters on furious nerves.

This writer is of the opinion that the traditional fathers, especially in Yoruba and Igbo land need to watch the way they partake in the politics of the country. There is also the imperativeness for the traditional rulers to help the country in evolving a new culture of probity and good character in the generation of Nigerian leaders. This, they can do by always standing as neutral arbiters in all matters concerning their subjects.

It is a shame that some or most traditional rulers have turned into ‘toys’ in the hands of politicians because of their sheer inability to say the truth as expected of them, being the fathers of their communities. Many traditional rulers, including those who are not looking for food or not hungry have become comedians at the sights of many politicians with executive authority.

We still remember many traditional rulers in whom ‘the man died’ in the anarchical days of Abacha. Traditional fathers should remain the protectors of honesty and straight talks in order to maintain a sane world. A situation where our fathers lose their respect because of what they would eat, will continue to worsen the decadence in our present polity where thieves and thugs are often sung more than quality characters.

It is regrettable that the same ‘offence’ which the Alake of Egba land was said to have committed was also committed by the Kabiyesi from Remo. The traditional father from Sagamu rushed to the Press to admonish his brother Oba in support of the Governor without adopting the elders’ approach of settling matters behind closed doors.

The Yoruba land is suffering today because the elders of yester-years who would say the truth, without minding whose ox is gored are no more. Yoruba need elders who would call any Governor or Oba to order when an error is committed. The back and forth between the Egba leaders and the executive governor clearly reflected the absence of leaders of the past who would not only call the Governor to order but also rally Yoruba generally behind the proper way of doing things.

The opinion of this writer is that there was no sufficient reason for the Governor to use his lieutenants to ridicule the stool of Alake of Egba land because of the fact that His Royal Highness chose to call for the repairs of Egba roads. Traditional fathers too need to keep away from partisan politics and also to be non-aligned in the political waters. The Governor, even though has proved without doubt of being highly intolerant of contrary views and groups, would not have frowned at the public criticism of his government if the traditional father had not been perceived to be leaning towards some groups or persons opposed to him.

Be that as it may, the Governor needs to be reminded that his position is transient while the Alake’s stool is permanent. The Office of the governor deserves respect but in this situation, the royal stool of Alake deserves better respect than was given by Gbenga Daniel.

There is definitely more to the mere public call by the Alake for the repairs of roads in his vicinity than meets the ordinary eye. The Governor should caution himself against always using a sledge hammer to pursue an ant. The Yoruba saying that ‘ every smoke leads to fire’ is very apposite in the rumor that the Government was about to depose the current Alake. It was quite scary that the Government under Gbenga Daniel would go that far over a supposedly small issue as the Alake calling for a better condition for the roads in Abeokuta.

There is no doubt that the Governor has ridiculed the person and stool of Alake by subtly intimidating the Alake to quickly ‘show him the respect that he deserves’. The various chiefs of Egba who had asked Daniel to apologize to Alake have now kept mute, perhaps in consonance with their royal father. The muteness should not be pleasing to Daniel because it will definitely deliver payback in the nearest future.

With all respects, it is more surprising that the royal fathers from Ijebu areas of Ogun State have always turned a simple matter into parochial one. The other time when the legislators were having a problem with the Governor, some traditional rulers from this side were quick in threatening the burning down and lynching of any legislator from their domain who gave any trouble to Gbenga Daniel who in their eyes was the best that had ever happened in the history of governance in Ogun State.

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Some traditional rulers were even of the opinion that they have never had it so good with any Governor because Governor Daniel had taken very good care of them! The royal fathers have the right to call any erring son or daughter to order, but it is wrong to threaten legislators when there is a disagreement between them and the executive arm of government. The legislators have a job to do and that is ensuring a strict oversight upon all acts of the executive arm. It is not the job of the traditional rulers to force the legislators to toe the line of obeisance with the executive, the constitution enshrines the spirit of separation so that the interests of the people will be protected, and the rulers should beware of acting against the laws of the land by threatening the killing or burning of their subjects, even when they feel they have erred.

It is very necessary for the traditional rulers to be cut off from politics. This must be the wisdom in all suggestions that no political roles be given to traditional rulers. The general public will only rely on the scanty knowledge of happenings to comment or act on the diatribe between the executive Governor Daniel and royal King Alake in the matter which was rested some weeks ago. It is however ear ringing that the matter may still crop up very soon.

It is necessary that the Governor dissuades himself from carrying out any ill advised action against any one within his state. It is also important that he does not act before he thinks concerning removing any Oba from office, never mind if he installs the Oba .

It is time for all traditional rulers in Nigeria to be totally absolved from any kind of politics because history whether recent or past has shown that involvement had done more harm than good to the traditional culture represented by them.

John Ayodele

bishopbode@hotmail.com

Atlanta, USA