Applauding Ize-Iyamu’s Respect For Traditional Rulers -By Isaac Asabor

If there is any video which the governor of Rivers State, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike literarily starred in as its main actor, it is unarguably the one that trended on social media platforms for the most part of February, 2020. The governor was seen at the podium addressing traditional rulers in the State who were in attendance for a quarterly meeting. While declaring the meeting open, Wike was captured exhibiting gross disrespect for culture and tradition, and his behavior which was seen by many as a faux pas and desecration of African tradition, particularly as his action no doubt set a very dangerous precedent for the younger generation was in every sense of the word irreverent.

In an obvious authoritative manner, Wike ordered the traditional rulers to stand with their staff of office, ostensibly for him to identify those that had attended the meeting with a walking stick instead of staff. Having confirmed his doubts, he sternly warned those found wanting.

He warned, “I cannot be addressing you (traditional rulers) when some of you are using an ordinary walking stick to come here. Since you don’t want to use your staff in the office, I will give it to other people. You don’t know the authority it carries… Sometimes you just want something without knowing the implication of it.”

As he warned them, he sighted one of the monarchs nodding in agreement to his resolution to rein in the predilection of traditional rulers of leaving their palace without staff of office.

Pointing an accusing finger to the monarch that nodded his head, he said: “You …I mean you, stop shaking your head. You are one of those causing problems. They gave you chieftaincy title, a young boy, you don’t even know what to do with it, and when I’m speaking you are shaking your head like this. All fake! Fake, causing problems everywhere. You just go and wear something bigger than you; people will think he is an elderly person; a very small young man, this one. I know him when I was in school; he was running about on errands. Now, he is wearing Uthman Dan Fodio and be using it to breach protocol. He thinks that when he is shaking his head, I will be happy. That is fake!” The foregoing no doubt encapsulates the kind of disrespect some few people at the corridors of power extend to traditional rulers.

In a similar vein, not few Nigerians, particularly Edolites were flabbergasted when the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki redeployed his Director of Protocol, Mr. Osayande Aisagbon for not making arrangement for Kolanuts during his visit to the Palace of Oba of Benin. Mr. Aisagbon was redeployed to the Ministry of Culture and Diaspora Affairs as it was alleged that the governor was embarrassed. It would be recalled that the governor visited the Benin monarch on July 25 for royal blessings as part of his reelection campaign, but was unable to present kolanuts and gin in line with the palace tradition for the royal blessing.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has congratulated the traditional rulers in Esan land for rejecting candidate of the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the palace of the Onojie of Igueben, HRH Ehizojie Eluojierior II. Contrary to PDP’s statement, footages of the visits and interaction with the monarchs and their chiefs are replete on virtual space. The PDP campaign team, while spinning the foregoing fake news incontrovertibly forgot an African proverb that says, “The problem with the palace attendant isn’t how to steal the king’s drums but where to play them from”. Interpretatively put in this context, there is no way anyone can lie with the name of the palace without the truth coming up in no distant time.

Glad enough, the somewhat disrespect, and stark disregard for traditional rulers which the Obaseki-led government in Edo State have been characterized with will soon be a thing of the past when Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu become the governor of the State come the next political dispensation. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as Pastor Ize-Iyamu recently promised to give traditional rulers their rightful place in his government to address the issue of insecurity in the state, by enhancing their capacity as revered leaders of their various communities.

The next governor made the promise in an address to all the traditional rulers from the Edo Central senatorial district in a meeting held at the Palace of the traditional ruler of Igueben, HRH Ehizogie Eluojierior recently, before flagging off his campaign rally in the community.

He said, “Traditional rulers are not people you only see when you want to do elections. They are people that you must consult regularly. They are people you involve in governance. They are people you must take their decisions seriously”.

He added, “And many of you know that when I become governor, traditional rulers will get their due respect. I know that a lot of our traditional rulers have been kept at bay”.

The traditional rulers had received copies of the APC candidate’s Simple Agenda which he presented to them along with bowls of Kolanuts and assorted drinks, after which the Onojie of Igueben prayed to God so that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s dream of governing Edo state will be realized come September 19, 2020.