The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for synergy between traditional institutions and the government for tolerable community and national development.
He stated that such a relationship will stimulate preferable security, welfare, and abundance for the people as well as closer cooperation between modern governance and the traditional form of government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged the colloquium organized to mark the 12th installation anniversary of the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rasheed Olabomi, at Iragbiji, Osun State.
Uttering on the theme of the colloquium “Sustainable Community and National Development, Creating a Synergy between Traditional Institutions and Government”, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Bayo Osiyemi, said traditional institutions under their unlimited tenure are strategically positioned to promote sustainability because of its link between the past and the present.
Governor said that the traditional institutions must ensure that they play a role beyond being the custodian of the people’s tradition, custom, history, and culture, adding that the role of traditional rulers must be agreed upon and enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
“Some Nigerians hold the opinion that one of the factors responsible for our low level of development is the failure to harness the potentials of our traditional institutions. In other words, there is a need for synergy between government and the custodians of our history, culture, and tradition”, the Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu added that “A key factor in development is sustainability, which in simple terms means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of our future generations to meet their own needs. The traditional institution under its unlimited tenure is strategically positioned to promote sustainability now because of their link between the past and the present”.