The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has said the South-west region won’t play a back seat in the politics of the nation.
The monarch said in view of the enormous roles the region had played for the development of the nation, it has no reason to allow itself to be relegated in the scheme of things.
He added that the Yoruba stand the chance of regaining its leading role in the country if it embraces unity and value reorientation.
Oba Ogunwusi spoke at his palace in Ile Ife, Osun state on Saturday when the Chief of Staff to Ekiti state governor, Mr Biodun Omoleye, delivered a lecture entitled; Enculturation of the Yoruba Culture Among Youth: Implications on Social Reengineering and Good Governance, at a cultural programme organised by Yoruba Youth Council (YYC).
Oba Ogunwusi added that, “Yoruba have always been known for being pacesetters since pre-independence days, so we cannot take back seat; and to achieve this, we must be united and our youths must promote our cultural, economic and political values.”
While delivering the paper, Omoleye had called for the constitutional empowerment for the traditional rulers, insisting that such policy would help in stabilising the nation.
Omoleye said the traditional rulers must be empowered to legally handle issues bothering on communal clashes, child abuse and local disputes that are causing distractions to government to decongest the conventional courts and reduce prison inmates.
He reiterated the desperate need for the Yoruba youths to rise up and defend the South-west in the politics of the nation, saying the zone won’t submit to the idea of playing second fiddle again for it to remain relevant and be vibrant.
The programme, held at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also featured award presentation and honour for the prominent Yoruba traditional ruler.
Omoleye in his paper, said the emasculation of the traditional institutions by governments contributed to the high level of instability of the Nigerian nation.
“The traditional rulers should be empowered to handle cases relating to cultural differences, ranging from child abuse, matrimonial, communal differences and disputes.”
