Oluwo Advocates Constitutional Role For Monarch
The first class paramount ruler of Iwo, Oluwo of Iwoland, His
Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has appealed
to government at all levels to consent a constitutional duty for kings
across the nation.
Oba Akanbi stated the constitution of Nigeria recognized all monarchs
as chiefs and not kings. He called on the constituted authority to
promote the traditional institution through upgrade of chiefs’ law to
kings law.
Oluwo noted monarchs are not more than ward councilors as empowered by
the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the legal provision (chiefs’ law) is a form of modern slavery
and has continuously subjected Nigeria monarchs to be subject of Queen
of England.
Oluwo has earlier apologized last week on behalf of ancient monarchs for their roles in slavery. He stated Chiefs law has to be amended and we are sorry for the past ills, mistakes and atrocities that led to revoking the powers of we the ancient monarchs, we will serve our people with utmost love as a father and servant to all.
As contained in a statement made available to journalists on Friday by
Oluwo`s press secretary, Mr. Alli Ibraheem, monarchs are constitutional denied some advantages mostly in contributing to vital
decision making and promulgation. The stipulated role for kings is
constitutional limited and has adversely restrained our contribution
to some exclusive vital discourse of national interest.
Oluwo revealed that there is no any other authority closer to the
grassroots than the monarchs, saying their status is a certificate for
inclusion into the discussion of exclusive issues of national
interest. He described traditional institution as the first patriot
in the development of the nation, noting the stools as permanent
seats.
Oba Akanbi called on the three organs and tiers of governments to
facilitate the enactment of kings’ law for the interest of the nation
and promotion of our diverse rich culture and tradition.
He said the constitution has technically make kings immobile, advised
the government to test run the inclusion with resourceful monarchs
across Nigeria.
Oluwo lamented the purportedly advisory role of the monarchs only
exist on theory, agitating for the passage of kings law to incorporate
the mental resources of traditional institution to the fruitful
governance of the country.
In his words “Kings are perennial assets of resourceful mental
capability to propel a meaningful governance model for the country.
Kings are spiritually endowed to lead and project a working option to
the advantage of the nation. But disappointedly, our contribution and
recognition are constitutionally limited such that, some kings are not
more than ward councilors”
“He stated advisory role is even a theory. The opinion of most kings
is not respected. Even, when a king makes an attempt to advice, they
may say traditional affairs are not synonymous with democratic
governance. For a purposeful general interest and better welfare,
kings law must be enacted and promulgated”
“I appealed to the constituted authority at all levels, organs and
tiers to liberate the traditional institution from constitutional
prison that has subjected them to the authority of Queen of England”
Oluwo implored monarchs to cooperate in canvassing for the enactment
of kings law as one of the vital tools for national development.
About Author
I don’t buy this idea of constitutional duties for kings.
Kingship and/or monarchy are unnatural to a free democracy society The notion of a king, an unelected man as a sovereign unto himself and enjoying perks and privileges of public office by inheritance and for life tenure not based on merit and/or hardwork is anachronistic and anathema to constitutional democracy. In a true democracy, all men are free and equal by franchise. Nobody should be a subject of another person. There should be nothing like king’s law in Nigeria if we seek to evolve into a modern democratic society. Every attempt to drag our nation back to into a medieval time capsule ruled by kings should be disregarded.
Let everyone seeking statutory public office recognized by the constitution stand for election and be voted for. Let everyone else look for, or create for himself, honest work outside government.
But such role as custodian and promoter of culture could be entrenched in the constitution especially when our indigenous culture and language face extinction threat