Lagos charges traditional rulers on conflict resolution, communal peace

The Lagos State government on Thursday charged traditional rulers in the state on conflict resolution, fostering communal peace and economic development in their domains, just as it affirmed that their role which goes beyond being the custodian of tradition and culture can never be overlooked in the scheme of things.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, gave this charge at a retreat, themed: “The Role of Traditional Rulers in Conflict Resolution and in Fostering Communal Peace and Economic Development,” organised for traditional rulers in state, and held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ahmed said traditional rulers in Lagos had continued to be development catalysts, and respected agents for mobilisation for policy implementation, monitoring and review of policy options, noting that conflict resolution remains a long-standing traditional engagement of royal fathers, passed from generation to generation and effectively replicated in contemporary society.

According to him, this noble role has contributed in no small measure to the peaceful co-existence among people of different backgrounds and beliefs in Lagos State, resulting in its remarkable economic progress, even as he appreciation for such, while requesting them for more, “especially at this period of challenges and un-provoked aggression among people.”

“So, your role which goes beyond being custodian of our tradition and culture can never be overlooked in the scheme of things, in a State like ours, where peaceful co-existence is paramount to the economic progress of the state.

“Conflict resolution is a long-standing traditional engagement of our Royal Fathers. This has been passed from generation to generation and effectively replicated in our contemporary society.

“This role has contributed in no small measure to the peaceful co-existence among people of different backgrounds and beliefs in our State, resulting in remarkable economic progress for Lagos State. We thank you for this but still request that you do more, especially at this period of challenges and un-provoked aggression among people,” the commissioner stated.

Ahmed posited that traditional rulers had a special responsibility to uphold not just traditional values, culture and customs, but to also ensure that information dissemination flowed to all nooks and crannies and that residents in each community understood government policies and programmes in the simplest form, using preferably the indigenous languages.

According to him, they were expected as Royal Fathers and opinion leaders to properly and adequately educate their subjects, including youths, on what the government had been doing, and how they could play their own part, to help the government deliver more dividends of democracy.

“And as the closest to the grassroots, the constant interaction with them puts you at vantage position, to get the message across to them, and to get their support and cooperation for meaningful development.

“This is not optional, but our collective responsibility to strengthen our co-operation for Communal Peace and Security. Retreat such as this is used to consolidate the interwoven synergy between the state and traditional rulers in greasing the wheel of progress of our dear state,” Ahmed said.

The commissioner said that the retreat would offer the opportunity for purposeful engagement on these issues and many more, and how they could leverage existing peace and stability in the state, to connect higher economic prosperity.

He urged them to be open-minded and profound in their submissions and engage resource persons on the various interesting topics lined up to map out ways for improved administration, especially at the grassroots; one that would stir towards the, “Greater Lagos Dream.”

Ahmed, while appreciating them for their efforts so far in assisting government in their domains, urged the traditional rulers to continue to cooperate with the government, and support her effort at moving the state to the next level, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s promise to the people of the state.

Speaking on the overview of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law 2015, Director, Legislative Drafting of Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Aderinsola Olanrewaju, said that law guides the selection, appointment and recognition of recognised and unrecognised chiefs in Lagos.

According to her, the idea was to familiarised the Obas to what the law says particularly about how declarations are made, the power to suspend, the power of the Governor under the law, what they should do in case of impersonation, offences under the law, how to amend declaration, so that Obas would be able to relate to all these in respect of the law.

Professor of Law, and former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akin Ibidapo-Obe, during his presentation on “Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution Technique,” said the role of the Obas and his Chiefs were mainly mediation and arbitration, adding that like every other skills and line of education, there was a need to be involved in order to improve skills at all time.

According to him, the primary function of the Oba is to resolve conflict by mediation, saying there should be an institute or Council of Traditional Mediators that would not only serve the immediate community of the Oba, but can as well offer their services elsewhere.

He also advocated the need to recognise the important roles the traditional rulers were playing in mediation and arbitration and should provide a platform that would enhance their skills and give them a basis to reach out even beyond their domains.

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who spoke on behalf of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, commended the state government for prioritising the intellectual empowerment of traditional rulers in Lagos State which he said wss evident in a retreat such as this.

He implored traditional rulers in the state to continue to commit themselves to and ensure they played their roles in ensuring that communal peace in their domains engender economic development in Lagos State.

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