Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and appoint a first-class royal father as the minister.
Oba Akanbi, on Thursday, said by creating such a ministry, a constitutional role would be given to royal fathers in the democratic system.
This was contained in a statement released by the Press Secretary to Oba Akanbi, Alli Ibrahim.
According to the statement, involving traditional rulers in governance through a separate ministry and constitution empowerment would also help address the problem of insecurity.
Oluwo urged the Federal Government to take a leave from the government of the then Western region when the Western House of Chiefs was created with First class monarchs serving as Ministers without portfolios.
He stated the role played by the appointed monarchs, contributed in no small measure to the success of the administration.
Oluwo who suggested the appointment of a monarch as minister for the chieftaincy affairs ministry, further proposed that the appointment should be rotational among the six geo-political zones of the country.
The statement read in parts, “We call on the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of President Ahmed Tinubu to actively and directly involve traditional rulers in his administration through the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.
“Creating the ministry will give a constitutional role, empower the traditional institution, endears monarchs to democratic participation, reassure belongingness, strengthen grassroots mobilisation and participation with all-inclusive dividends of democracy. The government of the old western region involved traditional rulers effectively. The first class amongst us were appointed as Ministers without portfolios. The throne of Oluwo was one.
“The minister for the ministry should be first class monarch appointed on a rotational basis amongst the six geo-political zones of the country. The government is urged to consider the suggestion to make a change in our democratic arrangement.”
Credit: punchng.com
