Kunle Odufuwa
By Kunle Odufuwa
The decision by the Lagos state Governor to ban all the so called Eze Ndigbos in Lagos is a very welcome decision that would help straighten and sanitise the issue of Chieftaincy in Lagos that had been bastardised by all forms of tribal titles that has no bearing on the society.
The issue of Eze Ndigbos was first proscribed by the Lagos state Council of Obas and Chiefs in 2010 but their decision was not backed by any law from the state House of Assembly then. I remember vividly that the Imo State Council of Chiefs sent representatives to the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs under the Chairmanship of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu thanking the council for their decision. The Imo state Council averred then that a good number of those parading themselves as Ezes in Lagos state can’t do same back home because they are OZUS who are not permitted to take traditional titles.I hope the state government would take steps to fully legalise its current decision with the backing of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The issue of Eze Ndigbos in Lagos state has gone beyond township unions to a stage where the self styled Ezes now constitute themselves into an alternative Chieftaincy institution in Lagos state and constituting themselves into traditional rulers in Lagos state.
It is disheartening that there’s hardly a street in Lagos that you don’t find self styled Ezes all struggling to dress more regally than recognized chieftaincies in the state.
It is instructive to note that the self built “palaces” of the Ezes have become centres for mobilizing their people for political exigencies inimical to the peace, stability and wellbeing of Lagos state.
It is not enough to ban the self styled Ezes and other tribal rulers in Lagos state,all their self serving “palaces” should also be made to revert to residential buildings.
With the number of Ezes outnumbering the number of recognized Chieftaincies in the state, one is won’t to ask the number of Yoruba Obas in the East if ever they are allowed to do so.
Some of our traditional rulers in Lagos state are also culpable in the illegal emergence and proliferation of Eze Ndigbos and other tribal chieftaincies in Lagos state as the concerned traditional rulers are the ones who usually confer these commercial titles on the beneficiaries and decorate them accordingly. It is interesting that the Ezes dress more than recognized title holders while some of them rub shoulders with those who installed them.
The decision of the state government is therefore timely and overdue in view of the resurgent historical fallacies questioning the ownership of Lagos.
The activities and involvement of some of these jankara chiefs in the politics and welfare of Lagos state makes the decision of the state government very appropriate and timely in order to preserve the chequered traditional institution of Lagos state.
In rolling out laws banning tribal rulers in Lagos state, the government should also introduce sanctions on those conferring such funny titles.
Governor Sanwoolu has been patient and tolerant enough. His decision on this matter is not only timely but very necessary.
You don’t impose your titles in other people’s state .without the approval of the authorities. After all, a town with no laws does not recognize offences but Lagos has statutory laws regulating its Chieftaincy institution and the time to possibly update and enforce them is now .
