Ex-minister flays Lagos govt over planned review of chieftaincy laws

A former Minister of Communications, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), has condemned plan by Lagos State government to review the Obas and Chieftaincy laws.
 
The retired general’s comment came on the heels of a recent publication that the Lagos State government had commenced a stakeholders meeting on the review of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law, 2015, which was organised by the Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Legislative Drafting.
  
In furtherance of this case, the Director, Aderisola Olanrewaju, not a relation of the former army general, said that the legislation was due for an update. The official went further to say that the legislation was a good law but had been in existence since 1957 and the ministry identified several lacuna in it.

Meanwhile, Olanrewaju in a statement, yesterday, challenged the entire royal and the ruling houses in the state “to speak up and denounce this despicable attempt to rob them of their heritage. Enough is enough.”
 
The former communications minister added that these were really interesting times in Lagos today, saying:  “This review of Obas and Chiefs law touches our daily existence. It is one review too many. It is needless, unnecessary repetitive and apparently designed and engendered to achieve an unclear objective.
  
“Our traditional institutions are the very pivot of our existence. They define our beginnings and our continuity. They characterise who we are.
 
“Our native laws and customs are facing stretching points and our values may fade away gradually if we are not vigilant.”
 
Olanrewaju said that if the law was good, why the need for a review? saying:  “This is another review too many.”