The Olowu of Owu Kuta in Osun State, Oba Hammeed Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun III, has urged government at all levels to strengthen traditional institution financially and adequately to restore morality back to the society.
The traditional ruler who decried manner in which monarchs give chieftaincy title to people for the purpose of getting money added that 5% of the allocation given to monarch since Abacha tenure needs upward review.
He made these known on Friday while featuring at the breakfast meeting of the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Oba Makama admitted that some traditional rulers no longer give out chieftaincy titles on the ground of morality and societal values.
The Osun monarch also noted that as embodiment of royalty, traditional rulers should not engage in activities that would jeopardise the revered institution.
“Gone are the days when conferment of chieftaincy is to the most patriotic and loyal subjects of traditional rulers.
“Traditional institution should be properly strengthen adequately and financially. Fingers are not equal, things are not the same, the way our forefathers does it, is no longer the way we are doing it now.
“The way our forefathers did it [then] is no longer the [same] way we are doing it now. You know the Bible has two versions; the Old Statement and the New Statement.
“In this generation, many things have gone so wrong. There are some traditional rulers that could not afford N100,000 in a month. They are not earning up to that amount in a month. Some are not earning N50,000 in a month.
“If you, being a subject of that traditional ruler, now come home and tell that traditional ruler that you have a friend in the US and he needs a title.
“You say ‘Kabiyesi, he said if you give him a title, he will give you N500,000, that you should paint the palace and when he comes, he will do something’.
“The traditional ruler may not know if that your friend is a drug baron over there. He didn’t that that your friend may have been convicted for money laundering, the traditional ruler will go ahead and give him the title of Otunba or he can even tell him to choose which title he wants.
“So, if the traditional institution is strengthened properly and financially, I think the respect would come back on that morality ground.
“But that is not the only aspect you should be thinking of as regards morality. In the past, the traditional ruler don’t leave his domain; it is you that will come.
“The traditional ruler is not supposed to be a businessman so that you don’t have conflict of interest with your subjects. The traditional ruler should be above board to maintain that moral standard. All these are taught in the seclusion that Yoruba called Ipebi. We were taught all these.” the monarch said.
Olowu Kuta urged journalists against promoting views of any traditional that does not believe in the Yoruba cultures and traditions.
He insisted that there was no place in Yorubaland where any king is enthroned or installed in the mosque or church.
“Stop promoting any traditional ruler that does not believe in our culture and tradition. No places in Yorubaland that any king is enthroned in the mosque or church
“Any king that said tradition is an abomination, watch him very well, he’s a misfit”, Oba Makama added.
