Olota of Ota and the Chairman of the Ogun State Awori Obas Forum, Prof. Abdulkabir Obalanlege, tells SODIQ OJUROUNGBE about the growing controversies in the selection of kings and the factors contributing to the decline of traditional values, among other issues
How true is the claim that the Awori Traditional Council has not been recognised as an institution on its own by the government?
We have the Egba, Yewa, Remo, and Ijebu Traditional Councils, but there is no Awori Traditional Council. This is because we have not been granted full divisional status. Although the division system is no longer widely used in many areas, it is still in use in Ogun State. Therefore, Awori should be recognised as a division because we are a distinct ethnic group. We are neither Egba nor Yewa; we are Awori, and the establishment of a Traditional Council for us is long overdue. We firmly believe we are entitled to it; it is not an unreasonable request, and we rightfully deserve it.
If the Ijebu and Remo leave, it would mean two divisions would be removed from Ogun State, leaving only two out of the original four. As such, Aworiland should be made a full division.
Additionally, we are seeking the paramount rule of Aworiland within the chieftaincy system. We also demand greater development in Aworiland because we have been marginalised for far too long, and it is high time this ended.
I am the Chairman of the Awori Obas Forum in Ogun State. The Obas within the forum are answerable to me. Beyond the forum, we do not have a full division, and that is why we have a kind of association where we channel our grievances.
Recently, some traditional rulers trended on social media for bad reasons. What do you think is the reason behind some negative actions from people expected to be custodians of tradition?
I think we have a problem with the politicians. When you want to appoint a traditional ruler or when you want to create a chieftaincy stool, certain things are necessary. You don’t just create a traditional stool for political reasons; you need to look at whether there is a need for it.
It was only the Olota that we had in all these areas until 1972 when the Ifo stool was created. It is the proliferation of stools that has led to all this nonsense and shameful acts among traditional rulers. We have too many traditional rulers, and when you have too many of anything, it becomes uncontrollable.
That is what we are seeing now because there are many unnecessary stools being created. That has led to all these things that are happening. We have lost our values. When you look at the way traditional rulers are chosen, it has been politicised. So, the right people are not being chosen.
In most cases in Yorubaland, Ifa is being used to select traditional rulers. But they are not being honest with the process, which has led to all these problems we are having within our traditional institution.
So, my view is that the government should sanitise the system and let us go back to the basics. Let us do the right thing to save our traditional institution. We do the right thing by following the right process.
It is not because somebody is a politician, or because somebody knows a politician, or because somebody knows someone influential that makes him a king. Our traditional institution has become a mockery. And to save it, we need to go back to the basics.
As a respected monarch, what is your stance on traditional rulers’ involvement in politics, especially considering instances where some have cornered gifts and palliatives meant for their people?
Traditional rulers are not supposed to participate in active politics; they are supposed to be neutral. Though they could influence, they are not supposed to participate in politics because all the subjects must be given the same treatment. A king must be impartial. Again, traditional rulers have no business with the distribution of palliatives.
Yes, local government agencies will come around. Yes, traditional rulers could supervise and give advice, but they shouldn’t be directly in charge of the distribution of palliatives. So, all these things are part of the reason why I said the institution has been politicised. Therefore, there is a need for the immediate de-politicisation of traditional institutions to save the institution from imminent collapse.
What is Awori’s position on zoning the governorship seat to Ogun West in 2027, and do you see this as achievable given the different interests in the region?
As one of the main traditional rulers from Ogun West, I want the next governor to come from the West. We, the Awori people, the Awori Obas, and the Awori traditional institution, want the next governor to emerge from the West. We are going to put everything into it.
The relationship between me and the Olu of Ilaro is cordial. It is the same with the relationship between the Awori and the Yewa people; we are all together in this. We are heading to the same place because we have been marginalised for a long time, and the only way we can get out of this deadlock is to be united. There is no doubt about it; I can tell you we are in it together.
There is hardship and hunger in Nigeria. What do you think the present government is not doing right, or what needs to improve?
Well, you cannot say the government is doing everything right, but regarding our economy, I think Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done very well. He has saved our economy from imminent collapse. If you look at what was happening before, we couldn’t even have access to money to buy things in our currency, and the value had already collapsed. But things have improved from the mess he inherited from the previous administration. He has been able to stabilise our economy, though the exchange rate is still quite high.
But I think we should praise him for at least being able to stabilise the economy. Yes, we are not out of the woods; we still need much more improvement. But I think we are doing better now. We have hope; he has restored our hope. Before, it was a hopeless situation, but now there is hope.
The proposed creation of a new state from Ogun State has been a key topic. What are your thoughts on this proposal, and do you think it will benefit the Awori people?
Our position regarding the creation of Ijebu State is that we want to remain in Ogun State; we are not going to Lagos, as widely rumoured. We want to remain and benefit from our investment in Ogun State. Over the years, we have made significant contributions to the development of Ogun State as Awori people.
We are the most industrialised in the state, yet not much can be seen as a mark of being the cash cow of the state. Rather, we have been marginalised in terms of development. So, what we are saying is that we have the population and the landmass. Even when you look at Yewa with the four local governments, when elections come up, our population is more than the total number of people in Yewaland.
So, we want the government to create about 14 local governments because they will be viable. None of the local governments will depend on the government. We have sent our request to the government, the Presidency, and the House Committee on the Creation of States. Again, we want the establishment of the Awori division within Ogun State.
