Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, has pledged to assist and work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the nation’s battle against substance misuse.
Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola, were two other royal fathers who accompanied the esteemed traditional ruler on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
The monarch promised to support and work with Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman of the NDLEA, in his renewed mandate to combat drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking.
He said, “To treat you with kindness, we are proud of you.” You are currently in this position due of your dedication and commitment, not by accident. You have this kind disposition. You are able to rule Lagos State and Borno because of this, and you have always been a performer. The legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria is something else I will always remember about you.
In direct response to the NDLEA chief’s request that traditional leaders assist the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat drug misuse, the Alaafin pledged to mobilize his compatriots to collaborate with the Agency.
“After hearing your message, I’m prepared to work with you, as are several of my colleagues here and some of my fellow traditional rulers. We are at the grassroots level and have a close relationship with the locals, I must say. We are quite aware of the situation. I would like to use this opportunity to inform you that we are prepared. We are more than willing to collaborate with you and provide you with all the assistance you need to succeed in this position. We can assure you that we will always be available to you if you need us,” Oba Owoade said.
In his greeting, Marwa congratulated the Alaafin on assuming his ancestors’ reign. He accused him and other traditional leaders nationwide of using their local clout to cooperate with NDLEA in the fight against drug consumption.
According to the 2018 drug usage survey report, about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 take drugs, indicating that the country’s drug problem is reached an intolerable level. It’s a serious issue, and President Tinubu has ordered us to take action, combat the drug problem, apprehend the traffickers, prosecute them, and seize their property. Additionally, because conventional institutions are so crucial to this job, we would like to call on them.
“Nigerians honor established institutions.” You come from somewhere in Nigeria, regardless of who you are. And you honor whoever is the community leader when you return there. As a result, the traditional leader’s words have significance. We also urge traditional authorities to actively advocate against drug usage by engaging the religious leaders in charge of the churches and mosques within their respective domains. The NDLEA is always ready to collaborate with conventional institutions.
Because drug traffickers put many young people and their families at risk, he said, the Agency will also value information from traditional leaders regarding local drug dealers.
“We truly value this partnership, and I can assure you that if we are able to reduce drug use, even criminal activity will decrease because all kidnappers, insurgents, terrorists, and bandits use drugs to get high,” he continued.
He thanked Alaafin for the visit and wished him a long and prosperous reign filled with health, peace, growth, and prosperity throughout the whole Oyo Kingdom.
