Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi on Friday urged the Federal Government to financially empower traditional rulers in Nigeria in order to checkmate the rising state of insecurity in their localities.
The Oluwo via a press statement reiterated the importance of the traditional institution in boosting the nation’s security architecture.
He also stated that the institution needed both Constitutional backing and financial mobilisation to carry out the task.
According to him, mere persuasion may not curtail security breaches and asked the federal government to fund responsible traditional rulers that have control over their subjects.
He stressed that all law enforcement agencies are dependent on traditional institutions for optimum performance, and called for urgent constitutional and financial empowerment for the royal fathers for them to be able to effectively monitor their domain.
A statement by Oluwo further read in part, “The most effective structure to checkmate insecurity is to empower traditional rulers constitutionally and financially.
“As a father to my subjects, I know every nook and cranny of my land. I have Baales, Chiefs and Princes cutting across all locations within my territory. If anything goes wrong anywhere, I know who to call for detailed and factual information.
“Should there be a breach, those appointed by my office must know who to hold responsible. You can’t just mess up here. I have a properly structured and effective government.
“I enjoin the federal government to strengthen the institution. The state of the nation calls for better patronage of the institution. Responsible monarchs should be security alert.”