NAN-H-91
Institution
By Iyiola Pedro
Ikorodu (Lagos State) Dec. 6, 2016 (NAN) A professor of Political Science, Femi Otunbanjo, says the role of monarchs should be limited to the community level and should not be extended to the state and national levels.
Otunbanjo made his position known on Tuesday in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2nd International Conference of the School of Communication and Liberal Studies (SCLS), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).
The don, therefore, criticised calls by some monarchs for the Nigerian Constitution to provide traditional institutions with roles at both the state and national levels.
Cue in audio (Otunbanjo)
“Monarchs have no role at the state and national level; they ought to have their role as community leaders.
“We need them because of their roles as `Oba’, `Emir’, and so on, they can always help to resolve disputes and set goals for their communities.
“But beyond that, I don’t see what role they can perform that the legislature and executive are not performing; so, asking for a role is asking for too much as far as I am concerned.
“Ordinarily, given my own ideological orientation I would have them scrapped, but because they have limited value one can retain them.
“But for them to be asking for more is overstepping their bounds. So I think they should just stay in their communities.’’
Cue out audio (Otunbanjo)
NAN reports that there had been arguments for and against the granting of constitutional recognition to traditional institution within Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Otunbanjo was the lead speaker at the conference with the theme, “Beyond Oil: Tackling Unemployment, Inequality and Poverty through Community Participation for National Development’’.
He blamed poor community participation in democracy on illiteracy, poverty, poor leadership, and oil boom, amongst others.
“The active participation of people, at the lowest geographic levels of organization, in a democracy offers advantages such as promise of effective utilization of resources for the good of the people.
“It commands people driven development, compels responsive leadership, provide a bulwark against corruption, and leads to a stronger democracy and more congenial societies,’’ he said.
On his part, LASPOTECH’s Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro, urged state governments at all level to involve communities in policy making decisions.
“This is imperative because no nation has ever overcome its socio-economic problems by isolating its people and their communities from its economic development.’’
In his remarks, Mr Adebayo Alake, Dean, SCLS, called for the establishment of a commission to formulate and implement strategies of national and social development; and monitor macroeconomic and social development trends and provide forecast. (NAN)
IYI/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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