By Alade Aromashodu

Chief Tajudeen Gbadesere Eletu, JP (Justice of Peace), is the Eletu Odibo of Lagos and traditional prime minister to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1.  Eletu, a white cap chief,  is also the head of Akarigbere in the hinterland of Lagos Island, popularly called Isale Eko. In this interview, he speaks about democracy and the traditional institution under democratic government in Nigeria.

What is your view about traditional institution under democracy in Nigeria?

We play our role traditionally. There is no interference from government. Let us take it from the grassroots, the community in the local government operates under the state and federal governments.  But the community is not just under the local government or even the state and federal governments but also operates under an institution which is traditionally inclined.

This is where traditional rulers come in. That’s  democracy – government of the people by the people and for the people. It has been like that for a long time, the traditional institution is drawn to rule in a democratic government. When we talk of democracy in the olden days, we had soldiers, the police (Asolu), who operated better than the ones Western democracy brought and we are practising now.  Some people who committed crime and were  sentenced to jail. You will find such people after completing their jail term moving around shamelessly. It wasn’t happening like that in the past. Such people would not have a place in the community after release from prison as they would be ostracised, but nowadays, the reverse is the case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) makes arrest and prosecutes but the corrupt person is soon released. The corrupt Western democracy allows this to happen.

Is there any way traditional rulers can stem corruption in Nigeria?

Yes. If they are given the chance, they have the solution. We need to go back to the beginning of governance in Nigeria, where from the village head, people are ruled. Today, government override everything. China came into limelight because they fight corruption in a way people must abstain.  In China, if anybody is tried for corruption and found guilty he would forfeit all his property to government. It is because there is no firm punishment for Nigerians that they embezzle public funds, especially people that embezzled funds meant for the provision of electricity for the masses. Somebody will have the guts to sit on it. Nobody brought them to book. What sort of government is that?

Are traditional rulers not bothered about the poor power situation in the country?

There is nothing they can do. Investors power is not delegated. Traditional rulers can only advise  government and leave them to take it or leave it. We have square-peg in a round-hole. Our self-employed people pay for electricity to work in their various workshops but don’t get it. Government at the centre thinks it can do it alone.

This can be delegated to states to handle. As traditional rulers, we can only advise government on challenges, cannot force them to implement.

Are you insinuating that traditional rulers are not given their rightful roles under democracy?

Yes. They are are not given their rightful role in Western democracy that is full of corruption. It is not about taking care of the traditional ruler alone, taking care of the citizen is part of it. It’s not an easy thing, stipend is given to traditional rulers, but many challenges are facing them in their domains. People will converge in the morning to ask for help, as a traditional ruler, you have to attend to them because they are your people.

For instance, all the people that live on family property that are taken away by government are suffering because nothing is given in return. Some families have property such as farmland that has been taken away by government. When they take people’s property, they should take care of such people. But Lagos State government is doing well in terms of caring for citizens. If you look at other states, they are emulating Lagos.

How do you rate the current civilian  dispensation. Is it better than military regime?

It is not better under military. There is nothing like democracy under the military and those serving under  the regime only obey orders. What is agreed by everybody, military boys can decree to nullify it. During the Buhari regime, a decree was promulgated against hard drug which attracted death penalty. Three Lagosians who committed the crime before the law came into existence were executed by firing squad. That is part of the wrong doings of military regime, no democracy.

Can you tell us the role traditional rulers play in a democratic government?

I’m a member of Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.  We have committees on conflict resolution, welfare, upgrading, among others. All these committees work with clear mandates. For instance, there is a law that says a community of up to 500 is eligible to have 2nd class Oba.

There is another part of the law that says “all the traditional white cap chiefs, requesting for upgrading will automatically be 1st class Oba if granted”. But Lagos traditional white cap chiefs have no grade whereas we have Grade II baales; and the traditional white cap chiefs have been in existence before the coming of the Portuguese.

It is like the white cap chiefs is peculiar to Lagos.

It is only in Lagos that you find white cap chiefs. You can’t find them elsewhere, even before the coming of the Portuguese, the chiefs were there. Now we are looking forward for election to come,  politicians will start moving round to deceive the people to vote for them, forgetting what such people  passed through in the past. One of the problems facing this country is our inadequate computer education. China products flood the world market because of their technological know how.

I lived and trained in Britain, I know how things are done over there. If party members are not doing well in office, members of the party will vote against them to pave the way for change.  But in Lagos State, wonders have been done since 1999 when Bola Ahmed Tinubu was governor. If not for federal might, the state would have excelled more.

What can you say about Eyo masquerade being part of many Lagos programmes?

Eyo is important in Lagos. It is staged during the final burial of people who contributed immensely to the progress of Lagos. Also, it is staged when an Oba (king) passes away; before the next Oba can be accepted or is coronated,  he must perform Eyo for his predecessor, otherwise, his coronation is in vain.