Oba Akintunde Akinyemi

The Eselu of Eselu Kingdom in Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has stated that it is unrealistic to expect traditional rulers in Nigeria to remain completely apolitical. According to the monarch, doing so is akin to “removing salt from soup”, as traditional institutions and political processes are closely linked.

Speaking at an event to mark his birthday in Abeokuta, Oba Akinyemi emphasised that traditional rulers often rely on political office holders to deliver development to their communities. “Who are the local government chairmen, governors, ministers? They are politicians. And if we get anything for our communities, it is through them,” he said.

The royal father also expressed concern over the continued closure of Nigeria’s borders and the fuel restrictions affecting border communities. He criticised the federal government’s policy, particularly in light of the removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that the justification for the closure no longer holds. “Even now, you can’t take five litres of fuel beyond the borders. Nobody has given a clear answer why,” he lamented.

Oba Akinyemi noted that despite numerous appeals and media engagements, the suffering in border areas persists. He described the situation as a disconnect between national economic policies and the realities of people living in those regions. “People come to the palace every day for help, but even my salary cannot cater for my staff, let alone others,” he said.

While cautioning traditional rulers against engaging in partisan or “dirty politics”, the monarch acknowledged that political considerations influence many aspects of the traditional institution, including appointments and rankings. “Some who are paramount rulers were made so through politics,” he added.

He, however, praised the senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola (popularly known as Yayi), for his visible interventions and consistent commitment to development in the senatorial district. “We’ve never had it this good in terms of priority and constituency projects,” the Oba remarked.

The monarch concluded by calling for more responsive governance, particularly at the federal level, to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians, especially those in border communities.