The traditional ruler of the ancient Ile-Ife city, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has dared Nigerian lawmakers to stay in their constituency areas for a week.
Oba Ogunwusi, who was trying to point out the contribution of traditional rulers to the society, lamented the neglect of the local government areas by the members of the National Assembly. He said this during a meeting with the members and principal officers at the National Assembly complex, earlier in the week. In footage of the meeting, the monarch spoke about the youths and how traditional rulers and district heads have been the ones attending to their demands.
Oba Ogunwusi said the youths should have been represented at the summit.
“It is very idiotic and stupid for us to be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.
We will continue to get the same results. Let us be very truthful and honest to ourselves in this country. We all know the problems.
“How well are we carrying along with these people in that age bracket?
Who is representing that age bracket in this hall?
The answer is no one.
We are not engaging them at all.
“But whenever we want to go for political posts and appointments, we go back to them.
We know the good, the bad, and the ugly in their category.
“As traditional rulers, they are the most active in our system.
Let us tell ourselves the truth, they are hungry and they are angry.
I repeat: they are hungry and they are very angry.
“All of us that are here, I will be very happy if anybody can raise their hand and say: ‘I can go to my constituency, my local government area, and I can stay there in peace for one week.’
“Who can do it, including the Senate President and the Speaker?
But you left the traditional rulers; you left district heads and the baales to continue to stay there. And you are saying all will be well in this country.”
Oba Ogunwusi said there was a need to strengthen the local government.
“In this gathering, the Senate President mentioned the key factor the collapse of local government.
It has collapsed.
Let us be very truthful to ourselves, it has collapsed completely.
“That is the only arm of government that is the foundation of this country; you don’t have any other foundation.
We are only building on a castle that has completely broken down.
That is the foundation that will gather the most active age bracket for you in this country…
“We should talk very seriously.
This issue of security is not the problem of the service chiefs; it is not the problem of the lawmakers; it is not the problem of the executive arm of government; it is a problem of all of us.
“We need to engage them and separate the corn from the chaff.
We know the good and the bad amongst them.
“We can easily separate them by engaging them.
Draw them closer.
If we engage the active people, it will be a lot easier for us.”
“We know the bad and the ugly in their category as traditional rulers.
They are the most active in our system.
Let us tell ourselves the truth.
They are hungry, and they are angry.
I repeat, they are hungry and they are very angry.”
“All of us that are here, I’ll be very happy if anybody can raise up their hand and say ‘I can go to my area of constituents, my local governments and I stay there in peace for one week’. Who can do it here? Including our gatekeepers, who can do it here? Including the Senate President, including the speaker..,” he dared the lawmakers.
Oba Ogunwusi further stated that lawmakers cannot abandon youth affairs to traditional heads and expect that all will be well in the country.
“But you left the traditional rulers. You left District heads to continue to stay there and you are saying all will be well in this country. We (traditional heads) are the ones facing these youth. We know their problems and we have been talking every time. ”
“You sit in beautiful offices and you all think all the well, let us be very truthful in this country,” he said.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the President said: “Insecurity impacts on the citizens and the economy and the governance machinery without regard to political, religious, ethnic or other affiliations.
“It challenges the foundation of our nationhood and stands in the way of our achieving our highest ambitions for Nigeria.
“I am certain that we shall overcome just as we have done many times throughout our history.
“However, success at this time requires that we set aside all other considerations and commit ourselves to a common endeavor in the national interest.”