Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has issued a passionate appeal to political actors, traditional leaders, and the general public, urging them to resist the temptation to politicise traditional institutions in Nigeria. The Governor made the statement during a stakeholders' gathering in Ibadan on Wednesday, stressing the need to preserve the sanctity, neutrality, and cultural essence of traditional leadership in the country.
Governor Makinde emphasized that traditional institutions have historically served as the moral compass and cultural backbone of society, long before the advent of modern democratic governance. According to him, allowing politics to infiltrate these institutions risks eroding their credibility, stability, and unifying role.
“Our traditional rulers are custodians of our values, culture, and history. They are meant to unite, not divide. When we inject politics into that space, we diminish their role and create unnecessary conflicts that could threaten social cohesion,” Makinde said.
The Governor's remarks come amid rising concerns across several states in Nigeria over the growing interference of political actors in the appointment and recognition of traditional rulers, often triggering disputes within communities and among royal families.
Governor Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to upholding the independence and integrity of traditional rulers in Oyo State, assuring that no political interest would be allowed to overshadow or manipulate the selection processes of royal leadership.
He also called on community members, kingmakers, and cultural custodians to stand firm against external pressure, ensuring that their decisions reflect ancestral traditions and communal consensus, not partisan alignments.
“We cannot afford to reduce our revered monarchs to political tools. Once we lose the neutrality of our traditional institutions, we lose a vital part of our identity,” he added.