Former Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, yesterday, said Nigerians’ patience is currently on trial over the socio-economic hardship plaguing the nation.

He noted that the economic situation in the country had culminated in frustration, excruciating poverty and mystery among the citizenry, thus overstretching their patience and capacity to cope with the situation.

In a lecture titled: ‘Redefining the Role of Obas for Yoruba’s Progress’, during the maiden zonal assembly of the Network of Kings from Osun Countryside held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Ojudu, who bemoaned the level of insecurity in the country, called for concerted efforts to address the menace to restore the confidence and hope of the masses in the government.

Ojudu, who represented Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015, said “only those who choose to be blind and deaf can argue against his position on the crisis and hardship in the country.”

He noted that killing, robbery, kidnapping and other vices are currently rampant in the country, stressing the need for traditional rulers to rise to the situation in their various domains to salvage the situation.

A former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, who also spoke at the event, made case for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country.

Oyinlola specifically said that the monarchs should be assigned roles in the Constitution, just as he advocated for the review the current Obaship enthronement process in Yorubaland, expressing optimism that such development will prevent undesirable characters from ascending the throne.

Oba Abolarin, who described traditional rulers as beings next to God, urged them to promote the culture and traditions of their people and give values to their position.