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From: Clement Adeyi, Osogbo
A traditional ruler in Osun State, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, has called on his counterparts across the country to take advantage of their positions and resources available in their domains and make life meaningful to their people.
Oba Abolarin, who is the Orangun of Oke-Ila, a sleepy town in Osun State, made the call while delivering a lecture titled: “The Roles of Traditional Rulers in National Development” during the Redeemer’s University, Ede’s public lecture series.
“There is poverty everywhere, especially in the wake of the current economic recession in the country. Traditional rulers are meant to wear the crown to bring development to their people. They need to inspire progress and development in order to eradicate poverty in their domains,” he said.
“The essence of the palace is that if you enter it sorrowfully, you should come out with utmost gladness and this depends largely on the good legacies you were able to set when you were there. The assignment of kingship is great and divine. The palace must be a centre of development,” he added.
He urged the traditional rulers to focus on the youth in their nation-building and development initiatives in their domains “and create a better future for them, because they are the leaders of tomorrow.”
“Our children are scavengers and slaves in foreign countries because they rush there to escape poverty in our country here. That is why we traditional rulers should not fold our hands and wait for government to fix everything for us. We need to also use the resources within our disposal to bring development to our towns and villages and create a better future for our youths,” he stressed.
The monarch also noted that the youth have a lot of roles to play in tackling the poverty challenge, instead of waiting for government to do everything. “Nigeria of your time should be better than the Nigeria of the past. In your little corners, use your gifts and talents to fix it.
He warned them not to travel abroad and suffer, despite their rich talents and called on those languishing in poverty in foreign countries doing menial jobs to return home and contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country.
