To curb civil disturbances and other social vices in the country, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Tiamiyu Ayoade Abidikugu has declared that there is the need for the government to involve religious and traditional institutions in governance, saying they are closer to the people.
He made this declaration on Saturday while speaking with journalists shortly after he was turban as Are Musulumi of Area 1 Koguo Central Mosque, Odeku in Oluyole Local Government of Oyo State.
He noted that there is the need for the government to involve religious and traditional leaders in governance, saying they are more closer to the grassroots.
Abidikugu called for a constitutional amendment by the National Assembly to accommodate roles for relious and traditional institutions in governance.
The newly turban Are Musulumi of Area Koguo Central Mosque said security is germane to the peaceful coexistence of any community and national development.
Noting that it is high time for the government to take security issues more seriously by delegating constitutional roles to religious and traditional leaders.
This according to him, would afford them to have first hands information on security issues in their various communities and as such, they would know how to address any security challenge that may arise from their domains.
He pointed out that security is the backbone of any society, which is tied to its social, political, economic and cultural growth.
According to him, the inadequacy of this vital ingredient of development has led to all manner of social ills, including violent crimes such as armed robbery, ritual killings, child trafficking and other crimes.
Attributing the lingering insecurity in the society to a lack of job opportunities and a bad economy, noting that idle hands are the devil’s tool, hence he also appealed to all well-meaning Ibadan Indigenes across the world to use their connections to bring more developmental projects into the city.
He maintained that government on its part should make religious and traditional leaders more responsible constitutionally to their domain, in order to reduce social vices to the barest minimum.
According to him, “Religious and traditional leaders are closer to the people, even than local government chairmen. It is very hard to see anyone who will not recognise their imams, pastors, monarch and chiefs but they may not even know their local government chairman.
“Therefore, for democracy to thrive, there is the need for the involvement of religious and traditional institutions in governance, particularly in the area of security”.
