Engage monarchs in security, Ekiti king tells FG

Tamarauemi Ebimini

ONIJAN of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Lawrence Aladesuyi, has urged the Federal Government to include traditional rulers in the nation’s security architecture to curb the menace.

Oba Aladesuyi said that such a role must be spelt out in the constitution to give it legal backing, noting that security problems of the nation cannot be solved by government alone.

The monarch, said giving specific responsibilities to royal fathers, who are closer to the grassroots, would help in intelligence gathering in their various communities.

Oba Aladesuyi, who spoke during an event to mark his first year coronation anniversary held in Ijan Ekiti, also advised government on long-term approach to ameliorating the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

He said: “I think we need the Federal Government to give traditional rulers the opportunity to be part of the solutions to security challenges facing the country.

“Giving them specific roles, to be spelt out, will help, in no small measure, to solve our security challenges, since they are the closest to the people and their subjects, as well as custodians of tradition and culture of the people.”

Speaking on palliatives being rolled out by Federal Government, he said: “Government can do much more to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and its attendant economic hardship on the people.

“This goes beyond food items and others being rolled out because development comes with a lot of things. I had earlier suggested cottage industries, cassava, palm oil mill and stuffs like that, these are some of the things that can be used to develop the nation and its people. People need to be taught how to fish.”