Ifa priest faults appointment, dethronement of monarchs by govs

• Says decision subjecting culture to ridicule
• Restates corruption will phase out once politicians swear by traditional means

A renowned Ifa priest, Ifayemi Elebuibon, has said that the continuous appointment and incessant removal of traditional rulers by governors has been subjecting the culture and tradition of Nigeria to mockery internationally

He, therefore, advocated a review of the laws that make state governors and local council chairmen appoint and administer the affairs of the traditional institution.

Elebuibon, while lamenting that monarchs have been turned into a laughing stock by their controversial removal by governors, said that such development was unhealthy for the image of the country.

The Araba Awo of Osogboland, who spoke with journalists, yesterday, at his castle in Osogbo, condemned the dethronement and reinstatement of monarchs in Kano State, saying that the political class has been debasing the traditional institution and using them to score selfish political points.

According to him, governors should not be appointing monarchs, nor sacking them, stressing that the selection of kings should be the duty of kingmakers.

Besides, Elebuibon said that corruption would be a thing of the past in Nigeria once those elected into government are subjected to traditional oath-taking.

He noted that if the constitution could allow politicians to swear by Ogun, and Ile (land) and other traditional means, they would not dare the gods by siphoning the public treasury or jettisoning their campaign promises.

The Ifa priest said that political office holders had been hiding under swearing with Bible and Quran to commit atrocities.

He said: “I can assure you that once elected politicians and those appointed start swearing by Ogun and Ile (land), there won’t be corruption in this country again. They too know that they cannot dare the gods and that is why they have been running away and refusing to swear through traditional means.”