We just witnessed a dethronement and subsequent banishment of a first class emir in a historic city of the North.
If not for the courts, the former emir would have remained exiled in a state over which the dethroning governor has no authority.
I remember putting up a post then concerning what use the traditional rulers could be of in a federal system that doesn’t recognize their old empires.
Even though some people from the South West have been saying it can’t happen there, they seem to be bad students of history. It has been happening, it’s happening and there’s no assurance it won’t happen in the very near future.
I’m not so much concerned, for now, about how it happened. But the fact is that eleven Obas were given queries in Ekiti State a couple of days ago.
In the past, traditional rulers are so worshipped that they are regarded as being next to the gods. They used to be respectable mini gods.
But that remains in the past. I think we should think of a way they can be useful in a federal arrangement.
The idea by someone that traditional rulers should not be getting emoluments from government should be critically looked into. He suggested that their cities or hamlets should be in charge of their salaries.
To those who expect traditional rulers to be neutral politically, I don’t really know how practicable that will be, especially in a situation where there’s lack everywhere in terms of the basic amenities.
We just have to do something!
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