Politicians run to us in the night – Traditional ruler

Bode Olagoke

A first class traditional ruler  at the ongoing National Conference, Oba Micheal Gbadebo Adedeji, the Owaoke Imesi has revealed that most political office holders in the country are fond of running to traditional rulers whenever they are in problems and thereafter look down on the same.
Oba Micheal, who was speaking at the floor of the conference during delegates’ remarks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s inaugural speech yesterday in Abuja said traditional rulers in the country were facing more problems “even more than senators”.

He said specific roles should be stated in the constitution for the traditional rulers “even though it is going to be advisory.”
When asked in an exclusive interview by Blueprint to talk more on the accusation, the royal highness said, “that is the true position; you will realize that majority of them here in this conference, we have past senators, past governors, past this and that; there is no way they can dismiss what I have said, that is the truth position. We are their fathers and we are not only fathers of politicians we are fathers of everybody, the people belong to us and we belong to the people.

Even the process of putting us on the throne, it is the most democratic process and they know it, therefore our people and the communities we come from have confidence in us. They believe in us, they listen to us, therefore the politicians know that if they want to get anything good, if they want to get the support of our people, they must come through us.

On his demand for the traditional rulers in the country, Oba Micheal said “In the past you must have heard that Alhaji Amadu Bello was premier of Northern Nigeria then, Oni of Ife was governor of Western house and I don’t see anything wrong if we have House of chiefs where Obas will hold sway; it has happened before, we have seen it in history and if it repeats itself, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”