The Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola, has lent his voice in support of the call for constitutionally recognised roles for traditional rulers in Nigeria.
He noted that the constitution should clearly state the roles to be played by traditional rulers in governance as that will checkmate excesses and also guaranteed justice and fairness in traditional parlance.
The revered Traditional ruler of owu kingdom in Abeokuta who stated this during the February 2025 edition of Guest Forum tagged “An Evening with Olowu,” organized by the Ogun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) held on thursday at the press centre, iwe iroyin, Abeokuta, however noted that such roles should be well defined so as not to clash with some existing laws.
Oba Matemilola emphasized that the role of traditional rulers should not be driven by personal ambition or a mere desire for status.
He cautioned against individuals who intend to become traditional ruler with the mindset that they can do as they want once enthroned without regards to norms and values.
“It’s important that there is a constitutional role which clearly defines the responsibilities of traditional rulers in governance. Unless we have that, we will continue to see monarchs acting arbitrarily after assuming office,” he stated.
The Olowu also frowned misplaced priority among the youth especially the increasing rate at which they look for wealth in a questionable manner
He lamented how wealth, regardless of its source, has become the ultimate measure of success, leading to the purchase of traditional and academic titles by individuals who flaunt riches at social gatherings.
“To be honest, it’s difficult to blame the youth when society glorifies wealth over integrity. As long as someone sprays money, attends parties, and displays affluence, they can buy traditional or academic titles.
“This sends the wrong message to our young people, making them believe that acquiring wealth by any means is all that matters,” he said.
He stressed that the solution must begin from the home, noting that traditional values such as “Ranti omo eni ti iwo nse” (Remember the child of whom you are) and “Omo rere o san ju wura ati fadaka lo” (A good child is worth more than gold and silver) are no longer upheld.
According to the monarch, the youth learn by example, and if adults fail to demonstrate integrity, hard work, and leadership, the next generation will suffer the consequences.
“Unless we begin to change our orientation, the youth will continue to emulate what they see from adults. If we do not guide them properly, we are setting up future generations for failure and destroying the values we inherited,” he warned.
The traditional rulers who reeled out some developmental project he embarked on to give owu kingdom a face lift and also cater for the welfare of less privileged people within the kingdom advised people to always value their integrity and live a life worthy of emulation.
Addressing concerns raised by the NUJ Chairman regarding the lighting of the Iwe Iroyin premises, Oba Matemilola assured that necessary attention will be given as soon as possible.
“By God’s grace, we will ensure that the entire place is well-lit very soon. The doors to this hall will also be fixed, and other critical areas will be looked into after this program,” he assured.
