Governor Advocates Integration of Traditional Institutions to Socioeconomic Development 

 

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has advocated the integration of the traditional institution into efforts to develop the society, pointing out that monarchs remain important to the socioeconomic development of the country.

 

Governor Makinde stated this, on Friday, while delivering the guest lecture entitled: “The Role of Traditional Institutions in Socioeconomic Development in Nigeria”, during the 70th birthday anniversary and 17th Coronation Anniversary of Oba  Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, CFR, of Ondo Kingdom, held at the Oba Adesanoye Civic Centre, Ondo, Ondo State.

 

The governor maintained that traditional rulers, an integral part of development, contribute to securing the society and ensuring peaceful trade relations, noting that the concept of homegrown democracy came from the recognition of traditional institutions and the great roles they play in the socioeconomic development of their respective societies.

 

He called on Nigerian society to return to the drawing board, study how the traditional institution was able to contribute to society and apply the same principles towards achieving peace, security and economic prosperity for the current society, saying strong traditional institutions promote a value-driven society through which socioeconomic development could be achieved.

 

Makinde highlighted three ways through which traditional institutions contribute to socioeconomic development including: contributing to security through community policing; maintaining peaceful trade relations; and keying into the development architecture of the state, saying those could be achieved when the traditional system is integrated into the state structure.

 

“So, I am also making a case for this integration. If these systems work well, why do we need additional bureaucracy for a federal-operated local government architecture? Each State can now determine what local authorities they want to run and how they should run. I know this is not a very popular stand I am taking. We must discuss these reforms and chart a new course for our nation,” the governor stated.

 

Makinde explained that his administration was able to achieve success with the Amotekun Corps because it included, as one of the layers of intelligence gathering, the Expanded Security Council, which includes the traditional rulers, saying the first people who would spot strangers are members of the community, and in working with them, his administration can quickly identify when strangers come into a community and use the network to inform security agencies.

 

He noted: “We can see the clear link between security and socioeconomic development. We need a secure environment to carry out economic activities. Farmers cannot go to the farm; market activities cannot be held when there is chaos. In Oyo State, we say, if you see something, say something, and the authorities will do something.

 

“This works well in our rural communities, where we have seen a drop in crime rates in areas where farms have been abandoned for years. Even in the more recent attacks in the Oke-Ogun Zone, the traditional institutions played a key role in ensuring proper intelligence gathering,” the governor asserted.

 

Makinde expatiated on the role of monarchs in socio-economic development by highlighting the key roles they play in peaceful trade relations among communities, noting that the state could learn to leverage the traditional rulers’ knowledge and coordination of market associations to widen the tax net and increase internally generated revenues.

 

The governor emphasised how his administration was changing the narrative in Oyo State by integrating traditional rulers into its drive to expand the economy of the state through tourism and solid minerals development.

 

Makinde said: “Community leaders are best able to identify the location of these solid minerals. This is why it is possible to carry out illegal operations in these areas. They are also the ones who will let in and harbour these strangers. This is why it is important to carry these traditional rulers along on any decisions about the natural resources in their areas.

 

“So, one of the things we have done in Oyo State to promote this inclusion is an executive order I signed recently, that is, Executive Order No 1 of 2023, which protects mining communities. It is a first-of-its-kind regulation in Nigeria, but we are using it to demonstrate what is possible when the State and the communities partner on developing the solid minerals sector,” he disclosed.

 

The governor, who was later installed as the Jagunmolu of Ondo Kingdom at the Osemawe Palace, congratulated Oba Kiladejo on his 70th birthday and 17th coronation anniversary, stating that Ondo Kingdom had witnessed unprecedented developments under his reign.

 

Makinde, who unveiled a compendium on Ondo history, expressed his commitment to the progress and development of Ondo Kingdom as one of its chiefs, noting that he had always been excited to associate with the people of Ondo State because his mother hailed from Akure.

 

In his response, the Osemawe commended Governor Makinde for the insightful lecture, stating that his recommendations were apt and well-accepted.

 

 

Dominica Nwabufo