The Kwara State Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Bayo Fabiyi, has described how traditional governance systems contributed to security and stability in communities in earlier times.
In an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Fabiyi said that the selection of traditional rulers was guided by spiritual consultation through the Ifa oracle. He explained that Ifa was used to determine whether a prospective king would bring peace or crisis to the community, and individuals considered unsuitable were not installed.
He further noted that traditional rulers lived within their communities and maintained close contact with their people, giving them a strong understanding of local activities and movements.
According to him, this closeness made it difficult for strangers or criminals to operate unnoticed, as unusual activities were quickly identified and addressed. He said this structure helped to naturally discourage crime and maintain order in the past.
He said,
“In the olden days, before a king was installed, Ifa would reveal everything about his reign—whether it would bring peace or crisis. If the signs were negative, that person would never become king. Beyond that, traditional rulers lived among their people. They understood the terrain, the people, and even strangers could not infiltrate the community without being noticed. That system naturally deterred crime.”…….See More
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