By Adekunle Williams and Oluwatope Lawanson

The Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies, South-West Zone, says it is in support of calls for the redefinition of roles of traditional institutions in governance.

Chairman of the conference in the zone, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, expressed the position while speaking at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate Committee on the Constitution Review on Friday conducted public hearings on proposals for the review of the constitution across the geo-political zones.

Some of the proposals received by the committee include those advocating inclusive institutional reforms, restructuring, state security agencies and redefinition of traditional institutions’ roles in governance.

Aribasoye said speakers in the zone believed that the roles being played presently by traditional rulers should be accorded recognition in the constitution.

“We believe that our Royal Fathers must have roles, better and clearly official roles and functions in our constitution so that we are able to have an all-inclusive governance structure.

“These will ensure that our Royal Fathers do what they are doing today in a more official manner.

“Across the country generally, the traditional institutions play very key and significant roles in stabilising our communities and our societies.

“We believe that these roles must be reflected and properly captured in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Aribasoye, also Ekiti House Speaker, said he and his colleagues in the zone would do their best to ensure traditional rulers get the deserved recognition in the constitution.

The conference chairman said speakers in the zone were also in support of state police and local government autonomy to address insecurity and strengthen grassroots governance.

In his goodwill message, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr  Adewale Egbedun, commended the leadership of the National Assembly for creating the platform for a robust dialogue on the way forward.

Egbedun said the outcome of the process would strengthen the country’s democracy, deepen good governance and ensure a just Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also urged the National and State Assemblies to constitutionalise the roles of traditional leaders.

Ogunwusi noted that traditional leaders do a lot at the grassroots, especially in the area of security.

The traditional ruler thanked the leadership of the National Assembly for giving traditional institutions the opportunity to continue to speak on behalf of their people.

The Ooni promised that traditional institutions would continue to do their best to actualise the dream of a better Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji