Over the years, there has been an argument as to whether traditional rulers should be involved in politics or not.
Why many claim that politics is a dirty game, very few people have drummed their support for monarchs to join politics.
However airing his mind on the issue, the Asagba of Asaba who retired as a Professor Emeritus of the University of North Carolina, expressed worries over the assertion that traditional rulers should not take part in partisan politics.
According to him, “It is a general opinion spreading around that traditional rulers are not politicians and should not be engaged in politics, I don’t understand that.
“It is not part of the statement that since you are not politicians you should not be party members in any political party, it’s clear but that you should have no role in politics, that I don’t understand.
“As traditional rulers, you can’t be ruling people and you have no say in what goes on in the Community. So, the role of traditional rulers in my mind, is not to keep quiet, it’s to support the best candidate that will do things in the community, no matter what party they belong to.
“And that is what I have been preaching to the traditional rulers and if we look back on how the country developed and the role of traditional rulers has always been the development of the country”.
Going down memory lane, he continued: “From the begging, the British government came and they sent people to trade and do business with the people around. It occured to them that there is discipline and order in order for them to do business.
“They signed treaties of friendship with the traditional rulers who rule the communities. Without the traditional institutions, there will be no country. So, Nigeria exists because all the traditional rulers in Nigeria ceded their authority to the British government.
“So, how can they keep silence and not interested where the communities they gave to the British government to administer, what is theirs progress?. So, they must be involved.
“And one of the tragedies of Nigeria, when the British government gave over power to the group of politicians who now rule Nigeria, they rules out the traditional rulers who gave them authority.
“If they have worked with the traditional rulers and all the traditional rulers supported one Nigeria, until all the traditional rulers come together, recognize what is good for their communities and the government of the day listen and apply that advise, Nigeria, will never be saved.
“I hope that it will be taken very seriously in the ongoing review of the Nigeria Constitution. Because the roles of the traditional rulers should be written into it because they are the ones that will make it possible for these 250 ethnic groups to live together.
“Security in Nigeria, is very porus because the traditional rulers in the grassroot have not been involved in the whole security system. I am sure that if all the traditional rulers in the north are involved and agreed to have one Nigeria, security in the northern Nigeria and its borders will not be as it is today.
“And one of the ways in securing Nigeria, increasing security is to recognize the role of traditional rulers in the governance of Nigeria.
“On behalf of the traditional rulers and all the people, I welcome you. We recognize people who have done things for us. We have heard your philosophy and we know that you are thinking in the right direction and that if elected, Delta State will jump forward. So, we wish you well”, the Asagba who was appointed a professor in 1961 and became Dean of the college of Medicine in 1962, added.
Earlier, in his presentation, the governorship candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, OON, has argued that unless traditional rulers play active roles, the state would be in jeopardy.
“I am very worried because we do not seem to understand the gravity of the problem that we are faced with. I am worried because Delta State from its height, has cascaded to this level.
“I am very worried, just like the Church was told that it is not their business to be in politics, we were equally deceived that it is not the business of traditional rulers to be in politics.
“I am worried because that bobo has sunk to the extend that you people virtually thought that it doesn’t concern you.
“Unless you traditional fathers, take politics as very serious, you will remain at the other end of getting pennies and technically becoming beggars.
“I am worried that it was a process to impoverish traditional rulers, that way you become subservient because if you do not have money and if you do not have what it takes to live a good life, you will be treated the way they want to treat you.
“They have technically divided among you all here, they have divided the traditional rulers. You have one on this side and you some on this side. It is all the strategy of divide and rule”, he lamented.
Traditional rulers present at the event include HRM Samuel Otiegede, the Obi of Idumo Ogo, HRM Boniface Iganwane, the Obi of Ubulobu Kingdom, HRM Sunday Olisanweokwu, the Obi of Ogodor kingdom, HRM Obi Clement Ejiofor, JP, KSC,the Obi of Ukala Kingdom, HRM David Azuka, the Obi of Akwukwu kingdom, HRM Obi Anthony Ogboli, the Obi of Ejeme-Aniogor, HRM Erenuma II, the Obi of Abavo kingdom.
Other are HRM Ifechukwude Alexander, the Obi of Olodu kingdom, HRM Ekpechi Joshua Ulu, the Obi of Emu kingdom, HRM Ezemah Alioma, the Obi of Otolokpo kingdom, HRM Solomon Chukwuka, the Obi of Ute-Okpu kingdom, HRM Obi Mohanyem, the Obi of Ezi kingdom, HRM Donald Ekarache, the Obi of Umuebu kingdom.
Also present are HRM Obi Offor Emmanuel, the Obi of Adonte kingdom, HRM Obi Ezegbulem Kenneth, the Obi of Nsukwa kingdom, HRM, Obi Onu Paul Ofili, the Obi of Ebu kingdom, HRM Onyemechi Josiah, the Obi of Obomkpa kingdom, HRM, Austine E. Ighayo, HRM Godwin Onyeweuwa, the Obi of Ewulu kingdom, HRM Dr. Engr. R. C. Osanwuta, Obi of Egheone, HRM Obi Fredrick Egbunkonye, the Obi of Abala, HRM Obi Augustine Nzemeke, the Obi of Egbudu-Akah.
Also, in the entourage of the renowned Criminologist, Olorogun Gbagi, OON, was the SDP South-south Vice Chairman, Elder Fred Owhotorofa, the Deputy governorship candidate, Chief Mrs. Rosemary Ishioma Oshilim, who equally doubles as the Deputy Chairman, the State chairman of the party, Ambassador Oke Idawene JP cum Adviser, Gbagi Campaign Council, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, the Deputy Director General and Director of Research and Policy, Prof. A. Atubi.
Others are Barr. Mrs. Amaka Nwosu, Director of Legal, Mr. George Onyidu, Deputy Director Delta North, Mr. Mike Dugbo, Deputy Director, Delta Central among other members of the Campaign Council, party members and teeming supporters.
