PRIOR to the invasion of Africa by the colonial masters, traditional rulers not only exercised full and firm control over the internal security of lives and property of their citizens within their domain, but also engaged in territorial expansion while warding off external aggressions.
The Monarchs had standing army and other relevant instruments of social control aimed at fostering peace and security in their immediate domain and even beyond.
For instance, great Monarchs like the Alaafin of oyo, the emir of Bornu and the Oba of Benin just to mention a few, had firm grip on security of lives and property of citizens within their domain in addition to making good and effective use of their army and traditional instrument of government to maintain their territorial integrity while ensuring effective policies of crime control.
Unfortunately, these tremendous powers of the traditional rulers have today vanished into thin air as the colonial relics of administration in virtually all African nations have apparently rendered them redundant, ‘outmoded’ and of no use.
One traditional ruler that has, however, proved that contrary to the above proposition, African traditional rulers can still be very relevant and make meaningful contributions to maintenance of peace and security in their domains in particular and the society in general is the Asagba of Asaba, Obi, Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge (SAN).
One practical demonstration of this is the introduction of ‘Know Your Tenant’ policy whereby all landlords are supplied with forms to be filled and duly signed by tenants providing vital personal information that serves as a databank on names, occupations, address, religion, date of birth, state of origin with passport attached for further identification.
This no doubt will fast-track identification of individuals, particularly with regards to cases of emergency, crime detection, investigation, and prevention within the domain of the Asaba Monarch. We commend the Asagba for not only expressing concern for security of lives and property of persons living within Asaba kingdom, but bringing an innovation that, if properly managed, could go a long way in enhancing the fight against crime and criminality thereby making Asaba a safer and better place to live in.
The Asagba’s innovation is a manifestation of his firm and irrevocable commitment to bringing his vast knowledge and experience as an eminent jurist, scholar, administrator and traditional ruler to further expand the frontiers of peace and good government, particularly in Asaba kingdom and the nation at large.
Additionally, it is the Asagba’s eloquent testimony to the need for traditional rulers and other community leaders to partner with security operatives in securing the lives and property of citizens.
It is worthy of emulation hence we advocate for other monarchs, opinion and community leaders to borrow a leaf from this act of exemplary and patriotic zeal of the Asagba of Asaba.
Be that as it may, we must emphasize that this innovation needs the support of all and sundry for the benefits therein to materialize and make the society better.
Accordingly, we call on other stake holders including palace chiefs, opinion and community leaders, religious leader, youth leaders and indeed all residents in Asaba to not just embrace the innovation but see it as a task that is not only to be done but manifestly seen to have been done.
Persons tasked with the collation and maintaining the data bank should not see the platform as an opportunity for compromising the essence of the concept of know your tenant policy.
It should not be an avenue for extortion, intimidation of citizens while collating the relevant information from them. Similarly, all citizens expected to avail the relevant information as required by the policy should do so with transparent honesty, patriotic zeal and a sense of commitment to security and progress for humanity.
People should resist the temptation to falsify information or mutilate same as this will definitely be counter productive to spirit behind the floating of ‘Know your tenant’ policy.
It is our irrevocable belief that with the necessary synergy between the relevant stakeholders, the Asagba’s initiative will go a long way in redefining the role of royal fathers and the traditional institutions in fighting crime and criminality through a non-kinetic approach.
