As part of efforts to address the challenge of insecurity in the country, the governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has prescribed the inclusion of traditional institutions in security formations.
He described traditional institutions as critical to the security architecture of any State, adding that their closeness to the grassroot is an advantage that government at every level can leverage on.
Oyetola, speaking on Thursday, at the 2021 edition of Ooni Ogunwusi Annual International Leadership Symposium, bemoaned the unpleasant trend of daily death toll on the account of insecurity.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi Oladoyin, said security should be a concerted effort of critical institutions which also include the traditional institutions.
“Considering the deep cultural and socio-economic place of the traditional leadership in our society, it is at the nation’s loss if their wealth of experience, wisdom and network are not adequately harnessed for national development.
“It is certain that there is a limit to how far we can go without integrating our traditional leadership into existing governance architecture.
“As the closest to the people at the grassroots, traditional rulers are critical components of government. They also have the responsibility for ensuring security, governance and economic development in their abodes.
“This is important because as politics is local, all security is local. The criminals come from families, homes, villages and towns. To effectively secure our nation, therefore, requires that government should work with our traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in promoting active communal peace building, intelligence gathering, good neighbourliness and responsible following.
“They should collaborate with security agencies to provide intelligence and other useful information of security and safety importance and encourage their subjects to do the same”, Oyetola said.
In his remark , the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwousi Ojaja II, also bemoaned the current state of insecurity in Nigeria.
He however appreciated the Osun Governor, for his efforts at keeping the State safe, adding that Osun is blessed to have such a leader at this time in its history.
