Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the decline in societal values, stating that the process of selecting traditional rulers has worsened to the extent that criminals, including drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers, are now enthroned as traditional rulers. Obasanjo stated this in his new book, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” which was unveiled last week.
He said the speed of proliferation of traditional rulers, many of whom lacked the requisite training and moral standing, had led to the deterioration of traditional institutions in the country.
The former president cited the instance of a traditional rulers, who was seen snatching ballot boxes and running away with it at a polling station.
He bemoaned the abandonment of the traditional training and apprenticeship system that once upheld the dignity of royal offices, stressing that this neglect has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s socio-political challenges.
“Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers,” he said.
He lamented that instead of being custodians of culture and justice, some traditional rulers had engaged in disgraceful acts that worsened the country’s fragility.
Citing the example of the monarch involved in electoral malpractice, Obasanjo said, “This is a great pity, and it has greatly contributed to the problems of Nigeria by traditional rulers. How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?”
Reflecting on the past, when traditional rulers commanded honour and respect, particularly during the colonial and early post-independence periods, he said such standards had been lost.
“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” he said.
The former president called for urgent reforms of the selection processes, stressing that there is a need to restore the traditional leadership’s lost dignity and value in Nigeria.
He argued that traditional rulers should serve as key contributors to national development, instead of being a burden.
“That dignity, aura and respect should be brought back and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness and not a liability,” he said.
Obasanjo emphasised the need for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those with deep historical significance.
He insisted that if properly repositioned, they could be crucial in achieving Nigeria’s long-term aspirations.
According to him, “There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers — the ancient and historic ones. And they can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all.”