Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed worries over what he described as decline in the quality of people mounting traditional stools, observing that rascals, hooligans, vagabonds and drug addicts have now hijacked the once revered traditional institution.
Obasanjo made this observation in a book launched during the celebration of his 88th birthday. The book was entitled, “Nigeria: Past and Future”.
In the book, Obasanjo condemned the surge in the number of traditional rulers and traditional stools in the country, stating that most of today’s monarchs lack the necessary training and the moral rectitude befitting the throne.
Specifically in chapter 14, Obasanjo said, “Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers.”
“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.
Reminiscing on the past, Obasanjo recounted how traditional rulers were honourable and respectable people during the colonial and early post-independence periods, saying that the bar has now been lowered to its barest.
“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.”
While calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore the lost glory of traditional institution in the country.
He argued that traditional rulers should serve as key contributors to national development instead of being a burden.
“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.
“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,” he declared.
