The Chairman of Ojo Local Government, Rasulu Idowu, has called on all traditional rulers and community leaders to imbibe the tradition of engaging and mediating between the people by enhancing national identity and providing an institutional safety-valve for community development.
He mentioned this during the opening of a Three-Day Retreat organised for traditional rulers on their roles in community and national development at Crown City Resort in Ogun State recently.
According to him, the value placed on traditional custodians, most especially at the Local Government levels, cannot be overemphasised,adding that in any circumstances and human endeavour, they play key roles in identifying a problem, thereby offering solutions where necessary.
“Traditional rulers have always been more than just symbols of authority. They are the custodians of our cultural heritage, the arbiters of our customs and pillars of our social fabric,” he said.
According to him, their wisdom, experience and deep-rooted connection to the people at the grassroots make them invaluable assets in fostering community development.
However, he emphasised that there are key areas where they can play more significant roles in ensuring a saner society aside from what government is doing. These, he said, include regular community engagements and mobilisation, conflict resolution, environmental stewardship, economic development, education and youths’ development.
“It is imperative to note that our traditional rulers are indispensable partners in community development; their wisdom, authority and influence can make significant difference in the lives of the people by working together with government at all levels, security agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as other stakeholders to build stronger, more resilient and prosperous communities,” he stated.
While setting the tone for the role of traditional rulers in bringing about meaningful development, Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolaji Robert, said traditional rulers’ roles go beyond ceremonial duties.
“They are the bridge between tradition and modernity; in ensuring our cultural values align with contemporary needs. They must consistently demonstrate their capacity to promote community development, resolve conflicts and bring about social cohesion.
“I must say without iota of doubt that traditional rulers face challenges like limited resources, insufficient funding which hinders their ability to implement community projects and the urge to balance their cultural heritage with modernisation which requires careful navigation,” he said.
