Alaafin of Oyo faults Nigerian federalism

A book was launched in honour of the Oyo monarch.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, has faulted the kind of federalism practiced in Nigeria, saying its operators, largely the executive arm of government, use it to their own advantage.

The Alaafin, who made the remark in Ibadan on Thursday at a book launch held in his honour at Walan Hotels, Ring Road, said the nature of Nigerian federalism does not allow other tiers aside the federal government to effectively play a role in the system.

The Alaafin recalled the frustration associated in engaging sitting governments in legal tussles even as he added that he was still happy to explore the court as a means to fight his course.

The event organised for a public presentation of the book titled “Chieftaincy Law: Principle and Practice” eventually became a political gathering as politicians within and outside the Southwest zone turned out in large numbers to honour the Oyo Monarch

The guests include the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan. Commending Tope Fadahunsi and Elias Adedokun, authors of the 389-page book, the Alaafin described the effort as the product of two years of mental labour.

“As these young men have observed, I have spent the last 42 years on the throne as the Alaafin, to contribute my quota to the development of traditional institution in Nigeria.

“In doing these, I have approached the courts with over 100 cases and in all the decided cases, with due respect to members of the Bench, the Inner Silk and the lawyers, the Alaafin has never lost a case on traditional institution matters.

“I am a stickler to the rule of law and this is informed by my conviction that if the rule of law is removed from our society, we shall be living in an animal kingdom.”If our fledgling democracy will survive depends more on the judiciary than our politicians.

“The judiciary is the unbiased umpire that can mediate in disputes at all level, including inter-governmental and intra-governmental disputes,” the Alaafin said.