Traditional ruler seeks constitutional roles for colleagues

THE Onikoro of Koro in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Peter Aremu, at the weekend, advocated constitutional roles  for traditional rulers in the country.

Oba Aremu made the call during his coronation at Koro.

According to him, traditional institutions have come of age and should have statutory roles to fast-track desired changes in their communities.

The traditional ruler also said the call for such constitutional responsibility was informed by recent security development in the country.

He said traditional rulers were always the first point of contact in cases of kidnapping, rape, theft and other acts in the communities.

The traditional ruler noted that such constitutional roles would assist them to adjudicate on some civil matters.

This, he noted, became necessary to complement the work of the judiciary in reducing the number of awaiting trials and decongest the prisons.

He decried the situation whereby  traditional rulers, regarded as the closest to the grass roots are not always represented at critical and crucial security meetings.

He, therefore, expressed the need for the review of the nation’s constitution to accommodate the required legal framework in giving such responsibility to traditional rulers.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, in a message, reiterated the commitment of the administration to sustainable socioeconomic development of the grass roots.

Ahmed, represented by Mr Adeleke Ogungbe, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Kwara Government House, said the administration would continue to accord traditional institutions the desired respect and recognition.