Traditional Rulers Should Stay Above Politics — That Is the Real Issue ||▪︎ Dr Peter Akande
6th of September,2026
By Dr Peter Akande
The likes of Aiyekooto and others who continue to twist Governor Seyi Makinde’s position on traditional rulers are actually part of the problem confronting our traditional institution.
Let us be honest with ourselves: if Governor Makinde says traditional rulers should stay away from partisan politics, what exactly is wrong with that? In fact, that has been my position from the outset. I have consistently maintained that traditional rulers should remain fathers to all, irrespective of political party, candidate or political ambition.
Nobody is saying that a traditional ruler should shut his palace against politicians. Nobody is saying that an Oba cannot receive the President, Governor, Senator, aspirant or any other political office holder who comes for courtesy, consultation, prayers or traditional blessings. That is completely different from openly playing partisan politics, campaigning for candidates or allowing the palace to become an extension of a political party.
Aiyekooto asks whether receiving politicians amounts to politics. The answer is simple: No. But openly taking sides in partisan politics is politics. There is a clear difference between receiving everybody as a father and actively participating in political rivalry.
Our traditional rulers occupy positions that should transcend political parties. A king should be able to receive an APC politician today, a PDP politician tomorrow and an APM politician the next day without being labelled a supporter of any of them. That is the dignity of the throne.
What worries me is the attempt by some commentators to deliberately confuse courtesy visits with partisan political activities. If an Oba chooses to openly identify with a political camp, then such a decision naturally attracts public scrutiny. And when government raises concern about it, the appropriate response should be sober reflection, not emotional accusations that the government is abusing or disrespecting the traditional institution.
The traditional institution is bigger than Governor Makinde, bigger than APC, bigger than PDP, bigger than APM and certainly bigger than the 2027 election.
Therefore, rather than attacking the Governor for advising monarchs to stay away from partisan politics, people like Aiyekooto should ask a more important question: Why are some people determined to drag our revered traditional institutions into the political battlefield in the first place?
If we truly love our traditional rulers, let us protect them from partisan politics. Let them remain fathers to everybody. Let them counsel politicians without becoming politicians themselves. Let them receive every political party without becoming agents of any political party.
Governor Makinde will eventually leave office. President Tinubu will eventually leave office. Political parties will rise and fall. Politicians will come and go. But the traditional institution must remain.
So, instead of manufacturing controversy around the Governor’s position, let us support the principle that our royal fathers should remain above partisan politics.
That, in my view, is not disrespect for the traditional institution. It is respect for the institution and a genuine attempt to preserve its dignity.
