Ooni To Youths: Rely On Monarchs If Political Leaders Fail You

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye, has charged youths in Nigeria to take advantage of the influence and power of traditional rulers to effect the change they desire.

Oba Adeyeye gave the charge on Sunday during a zoom meeting of the Nigeria History, Series 6, hosted by Pat Utomi from the Centre for Value in Leadership.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Continuity and Change in Nigeria: Traditional Rulers as Voice of the people.’

The Oba was represented by his Personal Special Assistant, Tomison.

He also disclosed that quite a large number of those who work in the palace of the Oba were also youths

He said: “About 80 per cent of everyone, who works in the Majesty palace is under the age of 40. We’re all youths. Innovative youths. It’s a thing that happens through time, it doesn’t just happen at once. And the growth in which we’re looking for will happen through time.”

He also stressed the importance of the traditional rulers on their subjects.

He noted: “Our politicians once elected all move to Abuja. The king once enthroned, stays in his kingdom. The kings all over Nigeria are closer to the people than our politicians. If you really want to know the minds of the people you go the kings. The kings alot of time act as judges. If there are problems, nobody goes to look for the House of Representatives member or senator, they run to the palace, to say, please sir, this is what is going on, and whatever the king says, settles the matter.

“As we notice in time, even our government when there is a problem in towns or cities they will rely on the wisdom of our kings and royal fathers to help settle the matter. Kings do solves situations.

“His majesty is currently involved some programmes as it pertains to youths and empowering them and pushing our young ones into governance because he feels that our of the biggest problems our youths have in Nigeria is lack of mentorship and so presently, every month, in his palace, his majesty hosts about twenty to forty youths every fouthnight, he allows them ask him questions, he answers them, he guides them and he provides whatever needs they want.

“One thing I think our youths should now start relying on is the traditional system, if they feel the political system has failed them. They should rely on the traditional system. Once our fathers call on these politicians they have to answer.

“Our traditional rulers should not be selfish, they’re the face of the people and representatives of the people. Whatever they say, it’s taken.

“His majesty has a vision of raising a certain number of billionaires in ten years, with the idea that within a certain number of years that, those billionaires will have a certain millionaires under you.”