Apparently disturbed by the growing hardship being experienced by many Nigerians due to the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, the Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Aladesuyi, has called on the federal government to do much more to cushion the effect of the situation.
The monarch said, “This goes beyond food items and others being rolled out because development comes with a lot of things”, saying he had earlier suggested “cottage industries, cassava, palm oil mill and stuffs like that.”
He stated that these were some of the things that could be used to develop the nation and its people, adding that the people needed to be taught how to fish.
Oba Aladesuyi spoke during an event to mark his first year coronation anniversary held in Ijan-Ekiti at the weekend.
He said giving specific responsibilities to the monarchs would help them to further contribute to the development of their respective communities.
The monarch said, “I think we need the federal government to give traditional rulers the opportunity to rule and serve since they are the closest to the people and their subjects and as custodians of tradition and culture of the people giving them constitutional roles will not be out of place. This will no doubt enhance development at the grassroots. It will be a kind of complementing whatever the local government administrators are doing.
“As a ruler in whatever guise, there must be some level or sort of defined responsibility attached to such office, that is why the roles are necessary.
“There must be some things outlined for the person to do as his responsibility, so I think it is apt for the government to give to traditional rulers constitutional roles and give them opportunity to do things they are supposed to do”.
