Erelu Abiola Dosumu, the ceremonial queen mother of Lagos has been speaking about the despair, pain, hunger, anger and deprivation in Lagos.
Her discussion followings the search for the missing staff of office of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
The staff was seized by rampaging youths who stormed the monarch’s palace in the wake of massive vandalisation and looting of public and private properties in Lagos.
Read: Public and Private Properties Burnt by Hoodlums in Lagos
The youths stormed the Oba’s official residence damaging and stealing everything in sight including food stuff, royal regalia and indeed his symbol of authority.
The Erelu told Arise TV that it is natural that tempers are high because of despair, hunger and deprivation and people are driven to make pronouncements.
However, she is convinced that whoever took away the staff will return it willingly and beg for forgiveness.
She said that the influence of their ancestors will direct the thief because Lagos was forged in peace and by peaceful resolution of conflicts. For that reason, the thief will realise his folly very soon.
The queen mother added that there is the real staff of office given to a king on installation. There is also the ceremonial staff and that was what was taken.
The palpable anger and hunger in the youths have called for action on the part of parents and leaders who she realised with recent developments have failed the children in the society.
Poverty and lack of education have been the bane of Lagosians in the last 15 to 20 years according to Dosunmu.
She adds that despair was only imminent among the very poor who are, sadly, surrounded by the rich and powerful in high high brow Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
To stem more societal uprising and bring the state back from the brink, the Erelu of Lagos made some recommendation to government.
According to her, state government must within the next 3 months, set up vocational centres and provide jobs for the children of the state.
Both the government and the traditional institution should make a deliberate effort and be seen to actually do so.
Horrified by the pain, anger and hunger, Erelu Dosunmu advised that both the government and the traditional institution make the deliberate effort.
Erelu added that there is no doubt that there are rubble rousers but quite a handful yearn for useful engagement.
Those must be sieved and helped before it gets worse and before everyone of them gets pushed to the wall.