Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has asked traditional rulers in Ondo State to play a bigger role in tackling insecurity, resolving communal disputes and protecting Yoruba culture as the state faces changing social and technological pressures.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa made the call on Tuesday while opening a three-day workshop for traditional rulers from Ondo North, Ondo Central and Ondo South senatorial districts at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure.
The workshop, organised by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, focuses on conflict management, security cooperation, cultural preservation and community development.
Aiyedatiwa said globalisation and digital transformation were putting pressure on the Yoruba language, traditions, cultural values and moral standards.
He urged the monarchs to use their influence to preserve local culture, promote indigenous businesses and encourage values such as honesty, hard work and respect among young people.
Monarchs and community security
The governor also wants traditional rulers to become more involved in local security efforts.
He asked them to use their knowledge of their communities, including networks involving hunters and community associations, to identify suspicious movements, pass information to security agencies and support community policing.
The request comes as Ondo continues to deal with security challenges, particularly in rural communities.
The state launched a joint security operation involving the police, army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun in 2025 after concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes.
In March 2026, the state government also inducted 500 new Amotekun operatives as part of efforts to strengthen its security network.
Research on security in Ondo has found that community-based actors can provide useful local intelligence and complement conventional law enforcement, although stronger coordination and institutional safeguards remain necessary.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration would continue to strengthen Amotekun and work with federal security agencies.
The governor also told the monarchs to prioritise dialogue and mediation when dealing with land and boundary disputes, chieftaincy disagreements and tensions between neighbouring communities.
“Peace is a prerequisite for development,” he said.
Beyond culture
The governor wants the traditional institution to play a wider role in economic and social development.
He asked monarchs to help make land available for agriculture and industrial investment, encourage education, discourage youth restiveness and promote primary healthcare and sanitation.
He described traditional rulers as the closest authorities to many communities and as custodians of history and heritage.
Nigeria's constitutional framework guarantees democratically elected local government councils and assigns them functions relating to local economic planning and development.
Traditional rulers, meanwhile, operate within state-specific chieftaincy arrangements rather than as elected tiers of government.
That distinction makes coordination important, particularly where security information or community disputes are involved.
Government's support for traditional rulers
The workshop is part of a broader relationship between the Aiyedatiwa administration and the traditional institution.
In 2024, the governor said five per cent of local government allocation had been approved for the welfare of traditional rulers.
The issue had been a longstanding demand from monarchs in the state.
In October 2025, the government presented new vehicles to traditional rulers and said it had completed a long-abandoned secretariat for the Council of Obas.
The governor also said the statutory five per cent allocation from the 18 local government areas was being paid to traditional institutions.
The government's latest position therefore builds on commitments it has already made rather than representing an entirely new policy direction.
However, the value of the new workshop will ultimately depend on what changes after the three-day meeting.
The government has not announced measurable targets for how the programme will improve cultural preservation, dispute resolution, security reporting or grassroots economic development.
What the monarchs said
The Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas and Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, described the workshop as the first of its kind in the state.
He said it showed the governor's commitment to equipping traditional rulers to perform their responsibilities more effectively.
Oba Ogunoye also praised the administration for providing vehicles to monarchs, completing the Obas' House and approving five per cent of local government revenue for the traditional institution.
He said the workshop should establish minimum expectations for traditional rulers while giving them an opportunity to update their knowledge.
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, said he had spent 11 years on the throne without attending a similar seminar.
The Kalasue of Apoi, Prof Sunday Amusehan, said he had also not witnessed such a gathering since his enthronement about nine years ago.
He said the meeting could allow monarchs to compare customs and traditions, exchange ideas and strengthen relationships between neighbouring communities.
The Ondo State Police Command also backed closer cooperation with traditional rulers.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, represented by CSP Taiwo Adeniji, said monarchs had an important role in maintaining peace, resolving communal disputes and supporting crime prevention.
The command promised regular engagement and information sharing with the traditional institution.
Why it matters
For residents, the most immediate potential benefit is better communication between communities, traditional authorities and security agencies.
Traditional rulers often have access to information about local disputes and movements that may not quickly reach formal institutions.
But relying on informal networks also creates risks if intelligence is poorly verified, if communities are unfairly targeted or if traditional authority is used to settle disputes outside established legal processes.
Preserving Yoruba language and traditions requires more than urging young people to respect cultural values.
It may require sustained investment in language education, archives, cultural centres, local creative industries and opportunities for young people to earn a living from indigenous knowledge and crafts.
The governor said his administration remained committed to the welfare and dignity of the traditional institution and would continue to involve monarchs in major policy discussions affecting local administration.
He described the government-traditional institution relationship as “an indispensable alliance for progress”.
