The paramount ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Abdul Kabir Adewale Shotobi, has called for the inclusion of traditional rulers in state affairs during the Yoruba Obas Forum’s courtesy visit.
The Yoruba Obas Forum is a royal council comprising kings from various Yoruba lands, regions, and Yoruba-speaking societies across Nigeria.
The forum embarked on a courtesy visitation exercise to prominent kings in Lagos State to foster unity, cooperation, and lasting bonds, as well as to rejuvenate and promote the indigenous culture of the Yoruba race.
Obas from southwestern states and Kaba in Kogi State were all part of the forum.
The courtesy visit kicked off on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, as the forum convened at the palace of the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom in Epe, Oba Babatunde Olaogun Ogunlaja JP.
On the first day of the visit, the Obas commuted together to the palace of the Ayandelu of Odo-Ayandelu Kingdom, Oba Asumo Ganiyu Aderibigbe, to wine and dine.
The next day, the Obas visited the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Abdul Kabir Adewale Shotobi.
While addressing his colleagues, Oba Shotobi expressed his concern over the sidelining of Obas in state polity.
“We have been relegated. We are Obas without government backing; we don’t have much of an instrument of war to back our actions, and that is what we are fighting for,” Oba Shotobi said.
He recalled that during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Lagos, he was given the opportunity to address him and discussed the issue of excluding Obas from state affairs.
Oba Shotobi revealed that when President Tinubu asked about their demands, he replied, “We asked for an advisory role in the governance of this country.
We need to get involved. We need to know how the government of the day is running the affairs of this country.”
He further stated that President Tinubu responded by saying that the issue is constitutional and would need to be addressed by the National Assembly.
Additionally, Oba Shotobi said that during the recent visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Ikorodu, he raised the issue again, emphasizing the need for it to be addressed.
He revealed that the Speaker assured him that the matter is currently under discussion in the Green Chamber and that the House would reach a conclusion on it as soon as possible.
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