FG should abolish Office of First Lady, multiple political appointments —Oba Solaja

Oba Ibitoye Solaja, Keegbo of Atikori, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State is an associate member the Institute of Certified Secretaries and Reporters and retired as Corporate Assistant Secretary in ExxonMobil in 1999. In this interview by BAYO ALADE, he speaks on restructuring the polity and other issues affecting the nation. Excerpts:

 

Fifteen years after yours coronation, how do you feel as an oba?

I am really enjoying it. I have gained a lot in terms of mentoring from Alayeluwa Oba (Dr) Sikiru K. Adetona, Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu Land. He is God-sent to Ijebuland and Nigeria as a whole, in terms of experience and other things. Things can only get better.

 

Can you state some of your achievements within this short time?

Thanks to almighty God, I have been able to fulfill part of my promises I made to my people. One of them is facilitating the siting of the Nigerian Prison Academy at Tifeju; Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic at Keegbo; Oja-Oba Fadama at Oke-Alafia; Oba Ibitoye centre at Itamosugbo, Atikori and community-based Atikori security patrol van; all these happened after my ascension to the throne.

Those I have not been able to fulfill, I’m still working on them. The ones that we have achieved is through the support of the stakeholders in my community. The rest, I believe, will be achieved by God’s grace.

 

With the way governments relate to royal fathers, do you think they really believe in the roles that royal fathers play in our communities?

Some of them do know the roles of royal fathers. They know that we are closer to the grassroots than any government official. They know that when we royal fathers give directives, they are more effective and the people abide by them. That’s why governments at the state and federal levels can’t do without royal fathers, if they want their administrations to be successful, especially at the grass roots level.

Royal fathers are the fathers of all. They occupy a special position in the society and should be given their dues and the respect they deserve. There should be specific roles given to them.

 

How would you describe Nigeria’s current economic situation? What could be done and how could Nigeria get out of the quagmire?

Nigeria’s predicament is like a situation of famine in Samaria in biblical times; there was no food and things were expensive for them to buy. Already, it is a critical and trying moment for Nigeria, but the only thing we can do is to humble ourselves before God and seek His face through prayers to save our nation because He knows about the Nigerian situation. We know God is the only solution to our problems. He can touch the hearts of our government to make things right. God can rebuild and restore and has power to make Nigeria a great nation again.

God purposely put Joseph in the position of authority in Egypt to help the nation solve their issues. He can still do the same for Nigeria.

God is not ready to look at our mistakes and our sins. He is always ready to save and deliver us from difficulties. If Nigeria can return to God, the creator of Nigeria, things will change.

 

In order to change some things about the status quo, the government of the day has begun a campaign to tackle indiscipline in the society; it is called ‘Change begins with me.’ What is your view about this and do you think indiscipline could be rooted out of the country permanently?

The campaign is laudable, but let the presidency put it into practice. They should reduce the number of officials who are at the beck and call of Mr President, including those who see him off at the airport and welcome him on arrival.

 

The presidential system of government in Nigeria has been in existence for quite a while. How well has it benefitted the country?

I believe in the presidential system of government and democracy generally. However, the way we practise it in Nigeria is too expensive for our economy. It gathers a lot of momentum for corruption occasioned by a great army of aides. For example you have a government official having so many aides and personal assistants; doing what? This way it makes the practice of the system very expensive; positions are duplicated and the like.

 

What about the creation of states?

It is unfortunate that we cannot have all the states being agitated for. But I believe that the Ijebus have been cheated a lot, having being denied our chance for long. However, the condition at hand will not permit any administration for now to dabble into creation of new states. Unfortunately, I also believe that the creation of local government development areas in some states of federation is counter-productive.

 

For now what do you think could be done to address issues concerning the polity?

As a royal father I will continue to work with my colleagues to advise government to restructure. Each constituent part of the country must be allowed to utilise its natural resources to develop its immediate environment; something like resource control. There should be the establishment of state police for adequate security coverage; the Federal Government should take responsibility for the armed forces, prisons and immigration service through statutory contributions by state governments.

Government should establish House of Chiefs and assign constitutional duties to the traditional rulers. They are closest to the grassroots; they know the needs of their people. Many obas could serve well as chairmen of local government councils. And some others could represent their constituencies very well at the federal and state executive councils.

If the Federal Government can make lawmaking a part-time job and only approve sitting and travelling allowances for members at the federal, state and local government levels, it would be a fantastic idea.

Government should abolish the office of the first lady and other multiple political appointments. Constituency projects for all categories of legislators and budget proposals should be subject to serious perusal before approval.

Lastly, there should be a legislation for a single term of five or seven years, maximum, for all elective offices.