The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and appoint a first-class royal father as the minister in charge of the ministry.
Oba Akanbi said by creating such a ministry, constitutional role would be given to royal fathers, hence, they would be empowered and better integrated into democratic system of governance.
The monarch made the proposition in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim.
Going historical, Oluwo told the Federal Government to take a cue from the then Western Region Government, which, he said, created the Western House of Chiefs and assigned ministerial portfolios to first-class monarchs.
“We call on the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Ahmed Tinubu, to actively and directly involve traditional rulers in his administration through the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.
“Creating the ministry will give constitutional role, empower the traditional institution, endear monarchs to democratic participation, strengthen grassroots mobilisation and participation with all-inclusive dividends of democracy.
“The government of the old Western Region involved traditional rulers effectively. The first-class monarchs among us were appointed as ministers without portfolios. The throne of Oluwo was one.
“The minister for the ministry should be a first-class monarch appointed on a rotational basis amongst the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“The government is urged to consider the suggestion to make a change in our democratic arrangement,” he said.