By; Odeyemi Samuel, Akure.
Ondo State Tradition Rulers, under the aegis of ‘DE 130 Krowns Club’ in the state are decrying their state of neglect in the scheme of development.
Addressing Journalists in Akure, the President of the group, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade, Idanre, Idanre Local Government said members of the group are drawn from the 18 local governments of the state.
According to him, the Association was formed to complement the efforts of the state government in line with what operates in their sister Ekiti state since the 22 members of Council of Chiefs could not fight for their welfare.
Ondo State, he said is blessed with over 150 Traditional Rulers out of which only 22 are grade ‘A’ Obas while the rest are left to suffer untold neglect in the hand of Government and their agents.
Oba Akinbola said Krown Obas decided to instill discipline among the Obas and control the seeming excesses of individual Obas and thereby insulate the institution from being rubbished in the eyes of the public.
They also decried a situation where the five percent of gross revenue allocated to each Local Government from the Federation Account was not used for the traditional stools it was meant for.
This he said, has defeated the purpose of uplifting the traditional rulers status from the state of abject poverty where a driver earns more that the subject he was employed to drive.
Since the roles given to Obas are too enormous, he said, they do not have time to run after businesses which may likely tarnish their images and reputations.
They are therefore canvassing for strict adherence to ”the spirit of letter authorising the five percent allocation to be at first charge”.
The Association also appealed to the state government to direct each Council to commence immediate renovation of their Official Quarters (Palaces) in their various domains and jurisdiction.
‘De 130 Krowns’ in Ondo State however described the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as a rare gift from God to the people of Ile Ife going by what he has being able to achieve since he ascended the throne of his forefathers.
