Next Sunday, May 11, 2025 is the D-Day when two eminent elderstatesmen, Dr Yemi Farounbi and Dr Kunle Olajide, will feature as discussants to discuss the topic which has been gaining currency in the country.

The interview discourse which is the 31st episode holds via Zoom at 8 p.m. on Sunday and would be transmitted live on six radio stations across Lagos, Ogun and Delta states.

Among the radio stations are WASH 94.9FM; Sweet 107.1FM; Roots 97.1FM; Erinbe 92.1FM; Women Radio 91.7FM and the Asaba, Delta State-based Kruzz 92.9FM.

The once-in-a-month current affairs programme with an incredibly large online followership, is hosted by a media professional, broadcaster and public relations strategist, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.

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The interview is themed: “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Strain: Party Defections, One-Party Dominance, Prostrate Opposition and the Future of Governance.”

Expectedly, the myriads of other issues relating to the forecast of looming One-Party State especially the dangers posed by the present prostrate opposition and absence of viable alternatives within the political space are also tangentially in focus.

Farounbi, a cultural icon and media scholar, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

For his part, Olajide, an accomplished medical practitioner, was Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE.

Foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola is expected as the Keynote Speaker to herald the discourse in his capacity as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.

Boiling Point is a news and general interest Group, comprising an array of eminent personalities including over 300 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

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Delving into historical perspectives, the duo opined that the country strayed from the proper path when the British colonialists and elected  politicians, in their scramble for power, hijacked the reins of governance and reduced to nothing the then well entrenched traditional system of administering the people.

They further blamed the political class who are the major beneficiaries for relegating monarchs as mere tools of endorsement of preferred candidates during election seasons.

Oba Odidiomo and Ambassador Farounbi spoke on the popular monthly interview discourse, Boiling Point Arena Sunday night.

The current affairs programme which held on Zoom and was broadcast live on a radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, was hosted by a media professional, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.

A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola was the keynote Speaker.

The topic is: “Erosion of Traditional Dignity: How Nigeria’s Flawed Political and Judicial Systems Undermine Stature of Traditional Rulers.”

Oba Odidiomo said: “Originally, the role of traditional rulers is synonymous with the task of governance. It was the responsibility of monarchs to collect taxes, to build roads, they had responsibility for the economy and for the security of their subjects.

“Today, traditional rulers have been stripped of their constitutional powers and have been reduced to hand-raising instruments for the endorsement of politicians. Sometimes these monarchs do these because some envelopes exchanged hands or sometimes they are coerced to do so.

“The political class we have in Nigeria today have succeeded in re-enacting an Animal Farm situation where only Napoleon is right and are now paying themselves huge salaries and buying bullet-proof cars.

“They have completely relegated the traditional institution and have tainted the dignity of royalty. There is no more sacredness to Obaship. It is no more clean. It is no more pure and today we have all shades of characters, land grabbers and people with criminal records as kings and this is my regret.”

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Oba Odidiomo who fumed at monarchs who tremble in the front of governmental actors, sometimes kneeling before them, said: “I can never be commandeered to stand up before any personality because I am conscious always that I have two crowns, the crown of obaship and the crown of a lawyer. So, I have a Plan B and I cannot allow myself to be ridiculed.”

“I think we have got to that stage where those to become kings should not be people who are not educated or those looking at the throne as a means of survival or as a place where they are going to eat,” he further posited.

Farounbi stated: “There was a time we had the Obas completely in charge before the white people came. The British came with duality in their approach to governance. The British looked at the North and did indirect rule. They ruled the people through the monarchs or Emirs as they were called.

“But in the south, they inflicted on us a direct rule that circumvented the Obas. And that was where the problem started the moment the British decided that they were going to deal with the people through some elected officials.

“And by that time, we started electing local leaders, who were said to be products of democracy. Don’t forget the white people told us that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. So, the people elected started seeing themselves in direct competition with the Obas.

“They believed that the Obas were not elected. They believed that it was a matter of having the blue blood in them. And so, they started to erode into the powers of the Obas, unfortunately. Whereas in the north, where the British was in indirect rule, they effectively utilized the Emirs in dealing with their people.

“But in the South, the British, the Obas, except when they had problems, either they have collected taxes or there was riot, they then invited the Obas to come and use their native wisdom to solve the problem. But they avoided the Obas, they were dealing with the people through the political class. They were called politicians, they were called local government chairmen. Eventually they became House of Assembly members. By doing that, they eroded the honour, the glory, the glamour of the Obas. The primary function of the kings which is to govern the people, have been taken over by democratic institutions that the British brought, which they didn’t take to the North.

“The role of the Obas in managing the economy of the people have been taken over by the elected people. They have inflicted on us judicial system. So, the Obas were no longer a person that administered or adjudicated when there were problems.

“So, the British started the trend, and unfortunately, the politicians who took over from the British continued in that path started and massively politicized the respect, the role, the honour, and grandeur for the Obas. We even derogated them and started calling them House of Chiefs in our constitution.”

Farounbi also bemoaned the neglect of traditional fortification medicine which he lamented “have been overtaken by today’s technological revolution.”

“So, it’s not a question of the spiritual fortification that you have. It is how fortified you are.  And you know, this fortification is a question of who is stronger. If you come to attack me with a dane gun and I carry an AK-47 and I am the attacker, you are as dead as a duck. Your local fortification will not work because technology has overtaken it,” he stressed.

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The once-in-a-month current affairs programme will hold via Zoom tomorrow and will be transmitted live on a radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, for a two-hour duration from 8 p.m, to 10 p.m.

This particular edition of the online discourse on governance and nation building is the 20th such installment since the programme debuted in November 2022.

The fast waning, diminishing esteem and regalness of traditional rulers in Nigeria is the issue on focus under the topic: “Erosion of Traditional Dignity: How Nigeria’s Flawed Political and Judicial Systems Undermine Status of Traditional Rulers.”

Boiling Point Arena, with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of the Convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 34 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

Oba Odidiomo, a legal practitioner by calling used to be a prominent activist and an erstwhile ranking Exco member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) during the Babangida military era, leading to several incidences of incarceration in detention.

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For his part, Dr Farounbi, a well-respected cultural icon, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

In the recent times, the conversation has centered around the myriad of issues plaguing the traditional institution across the country to the extent that the hitherto dignity, esteem and magnificence accorded royal fathers have been sharply eroded.

In particular, issues like the game of thrones in the Kano Emirate and the wanton subjection of judicial processes to a game of toys by political actors will be on the front burner.

The duo of Oba Odidiomo and Dr Farounbi are to pointedly posit whether or not there should be constitutional roles for traditional rulers in governance while not also leaving out occasional issues of lack of decorum by certain monarchs.

A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola, is expected to deliver a keynote speech to herald the discourse, in his capacity as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Organizing Committee for the programme,  Mr Eddy Ademosu, one of Nigeria’s notable public relations icons, the interview discourse will in particular point the way forward out of the decadence.

Ademosu commended the management of Sweet FM, chaired by the Promoter, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach of the programme through its terrestrial and online channels.

Boiling Point, a news and general interest group comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

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This time around, two eminent personalities, the Olu of Igbokoda in Ondo State, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo and an elder statesman and cultural icon, Dr Yemi Farounbi, are the Guest Speakers to mount the podium.

The topic of discourse is:  “Erosion of Traditional Dignity: How Nigeria’s Flawed Political and Judicial Systems Undermine Stature of Traditional Rulers.”

The once-in-a-month current affairs programme will hold via Zoom on Sunday and will be transmitted live on a radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, for a two-hour duration from 8 p.m.

Boiling Point Arena, with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of the convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 34 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

This particular edition of the online discourse on governance and nation building is the 20th such installment since the programme debuted in November 2022.

In the recent times, the conversation has centered around the myriad of issues plaguing the traditional institution in Nigeria across the North, South, East and West of the country to the extent that the hitherto dignity, esteem and magnificence accorded monarchs have been sharply eroded.

READ ALSO: Tinubu speaks on killing of soldiers by suspected IPOB members

In particular, issues like the game of thrones in the Kano Emirate and the wanton subjection of judicial processes to a game of toys by political actors will be on the front burner for review.

The duo of Oba Odidiomo and Dr Farounbi are to pointedly posit whether or not there should be constitutional roles for traditional rulers in governance while not also leaving out occasional issues of lack of decorum by certain Obas.

Oba Odidiomo, a legal practitioner by calling used to be a prominent activist and an erstwhile ranking exco member of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, during the Babangida Military Era, leading to several incidences of incarceration in detention.

For his part, Dr Farounbi, a well-respected cultural icon, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Prof Saka Matemilola, is expected to deliver a keynote speech to herald the discourse, in his capacity as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Organizing Committee for the programme,  Mr Eddy Ademosu, one of Nigeria’s notable Public Relations icon, the interview discourse will in particular point the way forward out of the decadence.

Mr Ademosu commended the management of Sweet FM, chaired by the Promoter, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach of the programme through its terrestrial and online channels

Boiling Point, a news and general interest group comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

The post Boiling Point: Odidiomo, Farounbi discuss monarchs’ diminishing dignity appeared first on Frontpageng.

Adesina and Farounbi made the assertion while participating as panelists on Boiling Point Arena interview and discussion programme.

Appraising developments in the country since attaining nationhood at Independence in 1960, both Prof Adesina, a history scholar at the University of Ibadan and notable media icon, Dr Farounbi, also aligned in their submissions that the structural drawing of the building called Nigeria was faulty, and therefore, everything deriving from that drawing might collapse.

The monthly programme, the 10th in the series, on governance and nation building, is the brainchild of Mr Ayo Arowojolu, a seasoned media professional with 33 years multi-varied career experience spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

The interview session which drew a large global audience was transmitted live on an Abeokuta-based radio station, Sweet 107.1FM and via Google Meet for two hours.

A traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola, delivered a keynote address at the event.

Firing the first salvo, Prof Adesina said the military incursion introduced to Nigeria’s polity in 1966 by Aguiyi Ironsi irretrievably put the country in shackles resulting in the current admixture of unitarism and federalism which in itself has led to what he called complexities of difference.

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His words: “It is the complexities of difference that led to the adoption of the federalism in Nigeria via the MacPherson Constitution of 1951. Since then, we’ve seen what went wrong with the federalism we are trying to practice. Ever since the Military came via Decree 34,  what we have been practising is a form of unitarism.

“We have not been able to get out of the shackles of the unitary government created by the military. Even though we call our country a federal government, we will see that we still run a unitary system. And so, it is a confused state that the country is. It is a confused thing that we are running in this country.

“We have equally moved too far away from federalism. It is now an admixture of federalism and unitarism that we are practising today and that is quite unfortunate because the country has the capacity to give the federating parts the needed powers capable of transforming the respective nationalities economically.

“As we can see, even the federal government today, is more or less running something like a command and control system,  not too far away from the unitarism developed by Ironsi. We need to look at that critically to be able to build a country that is good for everyone, that grants the federating parts the kind of autonomy that would give them that kind of atmosphere of positive competitions that allows everyone to grow at their pace in order that federalism would become actually proactive and productive for this country.

“But right now, we don’t have that kind of situation and that is why everybody is clamouring for one kind of change or the other, or one kind of autonomy or the other, or one kind of independence or the other. I must add that in the situation we are in today in Nigeria, federalism has failed all of us. Yes, it is one thing for us to have a constitution like we presently have but the people who run the constitution or those who interpret what is in the constitution is another thing entirely.”

As a way out of this current dilemna, Adesina submitted: “What Nigeria needs now is to grant the 36 states the autonomy to extract and utilize their own resources with a sense of purpose and a sense of direction under a framework that allows competition. That’s the only way we can move forward as a nation.”

Farounbi, erstwhile Nigeria’s ambassador to Phillipines and the Kingdom of Cambodia, aligned with Adesina but differed on the issue of constitution review, saying only an urgent restructuring and total re-writing of the constitution could remedy the current dilemma in the country.

Farounmbi said: “The concept of federalism is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, where people share different cultures. The real issue is not a function of whether it is parliamentary or presidential, what is essential in federalism is how do we properly handle the distribution of power and resources.

“In the past, we have had success in federalism in this country when there was equitable distribution of resources and power. Then, certain powers were given to the federating units and they had the predominance.

“Today, what we currently operate in Nigeria is the root cause of our predicament. A situation where you concentrate 97 per cent of the total revenue at the centre can never produce development. Indeed, at the moment, there is none of the federating units that can boast of one per cent of the entire earnings, compared to what we had before the 1966 coup of Ironsi.

“Today, those federating units which produce oil only get about 13 per cent while the remaining goes to the central purse. Today, we have not been able to distinguish between what is a natural resource and a federal resource. The mistake there is that they think every money that comes into Nigeria is for the federal government which then begins to dole out this money as if it is a headmaster-pupil relationship in a central monopoly.”

According to Dr Farounbi, “Those who designed federalism stipulated that there must be a counterbalance, but what we have currently is not a counterbalance but a master-pupil relationship which make our 36 state governors to keep going to Abuja looking for money for roads, primary schools, and even for ordinary things that should have ordinarily been a matter of the local and state governments.”

He submitted further: “We have an overloaded federal government and when you look at it, we are talking about 774 local governments, over 3000 jurists and 300 ethnic groups and you want it driven from the centre? No, it cannot happen it will continue to create problems.”

“Today, the country is in a confused state. We have not been able to have the kind of arrangement we need to move this country forward and if this is the type of federalism that Chief Obafemi Awolowo ran, he would not have been able to build a stadium or even the first television station in the region.

“What we have today is a distortion of what federalism is about. It is making it difficult for Nigeria to develop at its own pace, it is very difficult to release the innovativeness to develop the grassroots.

The structural drawing of the building called Nigeria is faulty and every other things derived from that drawing will continue to have problem,” he added.

Farounbi submitted: “If we must be honest with ourselves, we need a rewriting of the constitution and proper restructuring. All these incremental amendments in our laws are disjointed and disjointed incrementalism will lead us to nowhere. Further to this is the fact that there must be a recognition that those who produce the golden egg, from the mining of crude oil in their domains, should have a say in the allocation of the proceeds and revenue deriving therefrom.”

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Oba Matemilola who doubles as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders, will chair the live interview session titled: “Travails of Nigeria’s Federalism and the Imperative of Rethinking our System of Government.”

Listed as discussants are two of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists and patriots, Dr Yemi Farounbi and Prof Olutayo Adesina.

A media icon, Dr Farounbi, was Nigeria’s ambassador to Phillipines and the Kingdom of Cambodia while Prof. Adesina is a renowned history scholar of the University of Ibadan.

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The interview discourse, which is the 10th monthly edition, will in particular revisit the foundational identity crisis of Nigeria from nationhood at independence and the various systems of government that have brought the country to almost the edge of a precipe.

Boiling Point Arena, a current affairs programme with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of Mr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 33 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

The interview discourse will hold online via Google Meet and is expected to be transmitted live by an Abeokuta-based radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, for the two-hour duration from 8pm to 10pm.

Oba Matemilola enjoined the government and key political players to utilise the opportunity offered by Boiling Point Arena to cross-ventilate ideas capable of proffering solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the nation.

In a press statement, chairman of the organising committee for Boiling Point Arena, one of Nigeria’s foremost public relations icon, Mr Eddy Ademosu, commended the management of Sweet FM, chaired by Senator Olugbenga Obadara for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point Arena to widen the audience reach through its terrestrial and online channels.

Boiling Point is a news and general interest platform for informed discussions, robust viewpoints and commentaries on governance and national development issues.

The platform comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 200 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

The post Boiling Point: Oba Matemilola to chair discourse on federalism appeared first on Frontpageng.

Boiling Point Arena, the 10th in the series, which will hold online on Sunday, August 13, 2023 via Google Meet is expected to be transmitted live by an Abeokuta-based radio station, Sweet 107.1FM, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

It promises to be an exciting conversation with Dr Yemi Farounbi, a media icon and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Phillipines and the Kingdom of Cambodia as well as renown historian and scholar, Prof Olutayo Adesina of the University of Ibadan, when they offer interesting perspectives on the subject matter.

Boiling Point Arena, a monthly current affairs programme with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of the Initiator and Convener, Mr. Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 33 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

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According to a statement by the chairman of the organising committee for the programme,  Mr Eddy Ademosu, one of Nigeria’s notable Public Relations icon, the interview discourse will in particular revisit the foundational identity crisis of Nigeria from nationhood and the various systems of government that have brought the country to almost the edge of a precipe.

With a view to profferring lasting solutions capable of bringing the country out of the doldrums, the duo will expectedly navigate various options in terms of either returning to the old Parliamentary System or retaining the current American-styled democracy or even a home-grown option as a bail-out strategy.

Also anticipated to be hotly debated is the contentious issue of the expensive Bi-camera legislature as to whether or not to be jettisoned and the increasingly worrisome bloated cost of governance.

Mr. Ademosu commended the management of Sweet FM, chaired by the CEO, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach through its terrestrial and online channels

Boiling Point, a news and general interest platform comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 200 Professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

The post Boiling Point: Farounbi, Adesina to dissect Nigeria’s federalism appeared first on Frontpageng.

She added that the lives of citizens depended on their leaderdship choice.

Egbemode who bemoaned the current recruitment process into leadership positions at national and sub-national levels, emphasised the need for education and political conscientisation of citizens to improve their awareness on the requirements for sustainable development.

While also providing statistics showing that the total vote cast during 2021 Big Brother Naija was 1.2 billion compared to 26.3million national vote cast during 2019 presidential elections, Egbemode lamented the  misplaced priority of citizens, adding that it was time to place higher premium on issues that affected the lives of citizens over and above issues that provided temporary excitement.

Egbemode, while declaring open the 2021 Press Week of the Osun Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, commended the Osun State governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, as a well-groomed leader whose recruitment was a good example of a conscious process.

She also charged media professionals on the need to rev up the performance of their responsibility of presenting citizens with critical information about the choices available to them, adding that media practitioners were duty-bound to educate citizens towards making right choices.

“We all talk about the Permanent Voter’s Card. The PVC is good but it is impotent when it comes to good recruitment process.  It is like a man that is impotent, who cannot impregnate his wife. It is one thing to have your PVC but getting to the polls to discover that you are faced with the task of choosing between six and half-a-dozen must be avoided.

“If people who are aware, who are educated, who are technocrats, don’t join the political parties, we will be left with the choices that political parties offer us.

“Our recruitment process into political offices must change. The current recruitment process is going no where, if we are honest with ourselves.

“The difference between Osun and other states in the country is the choice of leader we recruited. I dare say that we recruited a great guy, a fine gentleman, one not given to frivolities, one who simply wants to make a difference. And that should be a model of recruitment in many other political spaces.

“When we want to recruit a cook, are we concerned about the political affiliation or ethnicity of the person as much as we are about his/her culinary competence? The same applies when we want to recruit a driver or other professionals whose services have a bearing on our safety.

“We cannot afford to continue to recruit leaders on whom our lives and the lives of our children depend, without any rigour,” Egbemode said.

In his earlier remark, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and Chairman of the Osun NUJ Press Week 2021, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, said free and fair election did not guarantee good governance or enduring democracy.

Farounbi, who cited that a free and fair election produced dictators such as Adolf Hitler, said a strong electoral institution in a society that was weak would not produce democracy.

“In a normal democracy, the people must be stronger than the state. It is only then the state becomes answerable to the people. This is not the case in most developing African countries, particularly Nigeria.

“It is also important that political parties generate the best candidates so that when the people make a choice, it will be a reasonable choice. It is only when high calibre candidates are presented that electoral institutions present reasonable choices to the people,” Farounbi said.

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