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President Buhari meeting with Yoruba obas is in order —Oba Agunsoye
Much was not known of Ijesa North Traditional Council until last week when news broke that you had emerged the new president of the council. How did you emerge?
I won’t agree that much was not known about our traditional council which has been in place long before I became the Elegboro of Ijebu-jesa. But I can forgive you that may be you had no cause to write about the council. But that does not mean the council was not in existence. I am happy that you have known about the council now. Coming to the question of how I emerged, I emerged according to how I should emerge and how every traditional ruler who is qualified to be president emerges.
Was it through election?
No. Our arrangement has nothing to do with election. You know the spirit behind elections. We know it, and we avoid it completely. It is not a contest among members. It is through rotation among members. I think I have succeeded in answering your question.
Yes, but I need clarification on the statement you made earlier which suggests not every member of the council is qualified to rise to the position of president. Can you explain this better?
Your observation is right; it is correct to the extent that you somehow hit the nail on the head. Let me make it clear that six members from the two local governments which form the council are qualified to be president.
Can you mention the two local governments?
Obokun Local Government and Oriade Local Government constitute the Ijesa North Traditional Council.
How then do you rotate the position among yourselves?
It is three members from each local government. From Obokun Local Government, we have the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, the Alademure of Ibokun and the Owa Oye of Imesi-Ile. From Oriade, we have the Elegboro of Ijebu-jesa, the Ajalaye of Ipetujesa and Owaloko of Ilokojesa. The arrangement is clearly stated such that there is no reason to contest anything. If I may tell you, this arrangement has received support of all members. That is why we are enjoying peaceful co-existence among ourselves.
Who is your predecessor?
The Owamiran of Esa-Oke.
How can you describe his tenure?
His tenure was smooth as expected, and he handed over to me smoothly too.
How many years make one tenure?
It is a one-year tenure.
Why is it a year?
That is how it is, and we are all okay with it.
Don’t you think a year is too short for a president to make meaningful impacts?
As I just told you that we have no issue with that arrangement, let us adhere with how it is.
Are you afraid of anything?
Afraid of what? You must have forgotten that we are traditional rulers, who are not expected to be scared of anything. We are not afraid of anything. We are okay with the arrangement, and that is it. We don’t want to play politics with the council which is set up to foster unity and harmony among members and our subjects. We want everybody to have a sense of belonging to the same council, and we are achieving just that.
Were you aware that you were next to the Owamiran of Esa Oke when his tenure was hitting the terminal point?
I have told you that it a rotational position. The next person knows when his tenure comes. The beauty of it is that there is no rancor or ill-feeling or those things you see in contest.
What have you set for yourself in the tenure?
The first thing is to strengthen the unity in the system. We are united and my tenure will witness a more formidable council where every member would see his fellows as priority. This has always been my philosophy of life. It was this philosophy which guided me when I was in public service in Abuja and coming home regularly to hang out with my people. When I arrived town, I won’t get home until late in the night because I must have stopovers at different places. This philosophy paid off when the succession issue came up. Let me say to God be the glory for everything.
How did it pay off?
It paid off in the sense that I enjoyed tremendous support on my road to the throne. My people saw me as a rallying point to different classes of people in the town.
What are your other targets?
What I want to call improved welfare of my fellow traditional rulers is paramount to me, and I will stop at nothing in ensuring this is achieved. We are the face of our respective towns and our subjects, we should then be seen in good condition at all times. How do you feel seeing traditional rulers of your hometown riding in a carcass called a car? I am most particular about this issue of welfare, and, God willing, we are going to get a good result in that regard. Security challenge is another issue which I will also give priority attention. I can say that there is a kind of relief in the past two months. But I must say it that there is nothing compared to permanent solution so that everybody would be able to go about their business with fear of anything. Farmers would be able to work in their farm with full concentration.
Some traditional rulers always talk of government giving them roles in the constitution. Are you on the same page with them or not?
In fact, this subject is part of my vision which I will pursue during my tenure. We deserve constitutional role in governance because of our proximity to the grass roots. We know what happens in the localities and quarters more than any other level of government. Even this security issue we are facing, we have a strategic role to play in getting to the root of it. I am going to use my tenure to pursue this target. Democracy is about debate, lobby and negotiation. If you have a strong case and you are able to articulate it before the legislative body, there is nothing to worry about having your case approved. What I am saying is that this demand is right and legitimate. We are going to make a case for it that traditional rulers are equally qualified to play vital roles in governance.
Aside that you are closer to the grassroots, can you be more specific on the roles you can play in contemporary governance?
I don’t need to go too far to answer this simple question. Government can use us to boost Internally Generated Revenue. I am saying that if government assigns us on taxation issue, we are going to yield results. We understand our subjects and how to talk to them. We don’t need to run after them before they do what we ask them to do. Government policies at grassroots will be best implemented through traditional institution.
Some select traditional rulers from the South-west were in Abuja where they attended a meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari. What is your take on that meeting?
My take on the meeting is the take of every traditional ruler who is displeased with the unfortunate insecurity challenge we face in Yorubaland. We used to be the most peaceful zone in the country until recently when criminal elements turned to us and brought fear to our people. And there is no responsible government would fold its arm and watch things to degenerate before responding to it. I want to believe that President Buhari decided to call that meeting to seek cooperation of traditional rulers and also update us on what the government has done and intend to do to solve the problem.
I learnt you had a meeting of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers in Osogbo the following day. What was the resolution of that meeting?
Our chairman, the Oonirisa was not in attendance. The meeting was presided over by the Timi of Ede and we resolved to break members into different committees for effective operation. We want to have committees in all sectors so that we would be able to handle different issues with precision. Some of the intended committees include security, welfare, publicity and others. A 10-man committee will see to the constitution of the committees soon.
President Buhari meeting with Yoruba obas is in order —Oba Agunsoye
Tribune Online
Source: Tribune
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