Traditional rulers can’t be detached from politics – Ogun monarch

The Eselu of Eselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has argued that traditional rulers in Nigeria cannot completely detach themselves from politics. The first-class Oba stated that doing so would be akin to “taking salt out of soup.”

Oba Akinyemi, who spoke during a press conference in Abeokuta to mark his birthday, maintained that politics is intrinsically linked to traditional institutions, particularly in a democracy where political officeholders are frequently responsible for delivering development. He noted that although traditional rulers should refrain from “dirty politics,” their participation in politics and governance is sometimes inevitable.

He said, “The truth of it is that it’s like taking salt out of the soup if any Kabiyesi says he’s not engaging in politics. Ask him who is his local government chairman, state governor—are they not politicians? Who are the ministers of the state—are they not politicians? If you get one or two things in the community, are they not through them? You cannot take salt from soup. At times, you cannot be an Oba without playing politics. Even the issue of paramountcy—first class, second class and the rest—is it not politics? And some who are paramount rulers, who gave them the paramountcy? It’s politics.”;

Speaking about the ongoing border blockade along Nigeria's western corridor, which has had a negative impact on villages within his domain, the monarch further claimed that several attempts to engage authorities on the matter had yielded little success. Oba Akinyemi questioned the rationale for maintaining the closure, especially after the government claimed to have removed fuel subsidies, and expressed caution in pushing further engagements with the federal government, citing the risk of backlash and division.

“You have to be careful because of backlash. Just like the press are seen as public enemies, we are also public enemies. When you say things, some of your subjects and colleagues say they don’t support it—you are on your own,”; he said.