Dignity, Honour Has Left Our Traditional Rulers, Some Of Them Are Kidnappers, Drug Addicts – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern regarding the processes involved in the selection of traditional rulers in Nigeria, highlighting that individuals such as criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers have infiltrated these esteemed institutions.

He pointed out that the rapid increase in the number of traditional rulers, many of whom lack the necessary training and ethical standards, has resulted in the decline of traditional institutions across the nation.

Obasanjo made these remarks in his recently published book, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” which was launched last week.

He lamented the neglect of the traditional training and apprenticeship systems that once preserved the integrity of royal positions, emphasizing that this oversight has significantly contributed to Nigeria’s sociopolitical issues.

He remarked, “Currently, we have individuals such as criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers posing as traditional rulers.”

He further noted that rather than serving as guardians of culture and justice, some traditional rulers have engaged in shameful behaviors that exacerbate the country’s already fragile system.

He referenced a specific case of a monarch implicated in electoral misconduct.

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“This is a great pity, and it has greatly contributed to the problems of Nigeria by traditional rulers. How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.

The former President reflected on the past, when traditional rulers commanded honor and respect, particularly during the colonial and early post-independence periods, saying that such standards have now been lost.

“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” Obasanjo noted.

The former president emphasized the necessity for immediate reforms, highlighting the importance of reinstating the dignity and value that traditional leadership has lost in Nigeria.

He contended that traditional rulers ought to play a significant role in national development rather than being perceived as a liability.

“That dignity, aura and respect should be brought back and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness and not a liability,” he declared.

Obasanjo further emphasized the need for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those with deep historical significance.

He insisted that if properly repositioned, they could be crucial in achieving Nigeria’s long-term aspirations.

“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers — the ancient and historic ones. And they can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all,” the former President insisted.