The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has lamented that the Fourth Republic of Nigeria, despite 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, has failed to deliver significant democratic dividends to many citizens especially in education, rule of law and security.
Ladoja made the remarks on Thursday at the 23rd Annual Daily Trust Dialogue held at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
The monarch questioned the inability of successive governments to guarantee access to basic education for Nigerian children, warning that the increasing number of out-of-school children is a serious threat to the future of the country.
“Government has not made education a guaranteed right. Today, many of our children are out of school. Should this be the case in Nigeria at this point in our democratic journey? Can't we guarantee education for all our children?” he asked.
According to him, no nation can achieve sustainable development while denying access to education to a significant portion of its population, stressing that the consequences will be felt for generations.
Ladoja also called for continued constitutional and legal reforms, arguing that Nigeria must continue to refine its laws until they truly serve the interests of the people.
He said that law making responsibilities should not remain solely with the National Assembly, pointing out that State Houses of Assembly and local governments have equal constitutional powers to make laws capable of improving the welfare of citizens.
Expressing concern over the state of the rule of law, the traditional ruler cited inconsistent interpretation and application of laws as major obstacles to justice and accountability.
He said, “I've talked to lawyers who say we can't even guarantee what the law means, because today's interpretation can change tomorrow. That level of uncertainty undermines the rule of law.”
Ladoja raised security concerns, citing incidents where civilians are accidentally killed by law enforcement agents and security activists claiming that criminal groups are often better equipped than those mandated to protect the public.
He said Nigeria must decisively confront these challenges to build a democratic system that truly reflects the aspirations of its people, noting that while the Fourth Republic has lasted for over two decades, its full promise remains largely unfulfilled due to persistent governance, economic and security shortcomings.
