BY AYO ESAN
THE Olori Ebi of Onisiwo Family, Pa Sikiru Akanni Oduwole, has condemned the proposed review of Chieftaincy Laws by Lagos State Government, noting that government should not be involved in family chieftaincy matters.
He said the proposed review of the Obas and Chiefs Law of 2015 by the Ministry of Justice “is needless” since the Director, Aderinsola Olanrewaju, said the legislation was a good one.
Oduwole said, “Why the need to review at this present time of hardship and insecurity in the state? What is so paramount and demanding for this proposed review amid various contentions afflicting the state?
“This should not be the relevant concern of the state amid more grave matters affecting our lives. Indeed, we live in a very fragile time.
“Dabbling into chieftaincy matters now is tantamount to provoking more problems for the state. Reviewing chieftaincy matters now is rather suspicious and even dangerous. All government needs to do is to be sincere and stop putting non family members as Obas or Chiefs.
“It is the responsibility of the family to select and appoint their bonafide sons to the throne through their Olori-Ebi and the selected person to be accepted by the government.
“Enough is enough for the government to be involved in family chieftaincy matter.”
Oduwole also appealed to other ruling houses in Lagos State to speak out against the way the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs is meddling with the Chieftaincy Law.
“It is unfortunate that anyone can basically scheme his way to the Royal stool as long as you are close to power. This does not bode well for our heritage,” he said.
“This is the anomaly that is threatening our tradition in Lagos State today and if care is not taken, we will be opening a Pandora’s box where a non-indigenous person can lay claim to the traditional stool of our forefathers,” Oduwole observed.
