Lagos charges traditional rulers to fight cultism, hoodlums

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami presenting certificate of office to the new Oba Hameed Taiwo

The Lagos State Government has charged traditional rulers in the state to fight the menace of cultism and hoodlums in their domains.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami gave this charge at the presentation of instrument of appointment and staff of office to Oba Hameed Saka Taiwo, as the new Oba of Orile-Alagbado in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

He said traditional rulers must abhor completely all forms of cultism, miscreants and hoodlums in their areas and promote peaceful co-existence among residents in their various communities.

“As a custodian of the culture and tradition of your people, you should be seen as a rallying point for the maintenance of communal peace and social development irrespective of religion and tribe.

“Let me remind you that the institution of traditional obaship in our society, regardless of the advent of modernism, remains a rallying point for the generality of our people. It has been serving as a veritable vehicle for the dissemination of government policies and programmes and for the mobilization of the populace,” he said.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to run an inclusive government with the communities as springboard for social and economic development, while urging them to be more responsive to their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes as at when due.

‘’It is by so doing that the government would be in a better position to sustain the socio-economic growth and change now being witnessed in our State,” he said.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Jafar Sanuth noted that the installation of Taiwo was in line with the registered declaration regulating the selection of the stool of obaship to fill the stool in response to public notice issued by Ojokoro LCDA.

The Sole Administrator of Ojokoro LCDA, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye enjoined the residents to cooperate with the new oba and pay their taxes to government, urging the traditional ruler to help in promoting peace in his domain.

Speaking, the new oba, Taiwo assured the state government that he would ensure that government’s infrastructure in the community were protected, urging all sons and daughters of Orile-Alagbado to come home to develop the community with necessary amenities for the betterment of the area.