Like other intentions of the New Direction government of Kogi State, the visit of selected Traditional rulers from the state to Aso Rock Villa had been in the public domain for a while. After several trials, the visit was confirmed and these custodians of our culture, ideals and values were herded to Abuja just to massage the ego of a Governor that for now remain the epitome of what callous ineptitude in governance is.
It will be wrong and deceitful to assume that the Traditional Rulers had any choice in the matter, but the abashed manner they have gone about it is what should be of major concern.
Traditional Rulers despite the way the political situation and our laws have degraded them ought to be Fathers of all and must not display open partisanship during electioneering periods. But what we are witnessing now has elicited the enquiry about the roles of Traditional Rulers in the polity.
Royalty has now become pedestrian to the extent that revered Traditional stools are now being desecrated by those tasked to protect same.
The Aso Villa visit is another evidence of desperation on the part of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to curry undue and unmerited favour as the November, 2019 draws near. The right of any Traditional Ruler in his individual capacity to support any candidate is inalienable but the threshold of decency is crossed the moment Royal Fathers are turned to Loyal Fellows of politicians.
If it were to be in the days of old, many of those on that trip will return to stare at opened calabashes sign posting their rejection by the ancestors and the people.
The paramount duty of any Royal Father should be the wellbeing of his people but we have seen Traditional Rulers go to the Presidential Villa with the aim of spewing falsehood, misrepresenting facts and standing truth on its head for reasons not noble.
Where and when did these Royal Fathers meet with their people and got the mandate to appear on National Stage, fabricate such fib and disseminate same brazen perfidy without fear of God nor appreciate the folly in their flight of fantasy.
A disturbing trend is the utterances and actions of some of these Traditional rulers who cannot differentiate between the need to show appreciation for their appointments and the collective wellbeing of their people.
We heard one proclaims that the last time, someone from his lineage sat on the throne was about 200 years ago before Alhaji Yahaya Bello changed the narrative and he became King. Unfortunately, this Traditional ruler has become a puppet in the hands of his benefactor.
Is this reprehensible display of some of our Traditional Rulers strange? Of course not! Some of their predecessors during the slave trade era chained their people, raided neighbouring communities for more and sold into slavery for items as petty as hand mirrors.
Disappointingly, the avenue provided to table some of our collective problems that needed Presidential attention/action was not extensively utilized as the main purpose of the packaged herding of the Royal Fathers was to reintroduce His Excellency to the President. Imagine a stranger reintroducing a son to his father in his father’s house. So much baloney by those who should know better. Rather, barefaced lies were been peddled to deceive the President and Nigerians.
A Pharaoh that knew not Joseph will one day occupy Lugard House as tenant and the seeds being sown now will germinate with serious repercussions for the present infamy. For those wondering, why another Pharaoh, not all Pharaohs were bad as the tenure of that under which Joseph served as Prime Minister was different from that of the demon in the time of Moses.
The ridiculous extent inordinate ambition will take some people is in the realm of speculation. The months ahead will indeed be interesting.
– Posi Botun writes from Lokoja.
