K-RAD Advocates Financial Autonomy For Traditional Rulers

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke, popularly known as K-RAD, has called for constitutional reforms to grant financial autonomy and protections to traditional rulers.

K-RAD stated this on Monday while delivering a lecture at the 15th coronation anniversary of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Osun State University, Osogbo.

The governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2026 election urged the National Assembly to speedily amend the Constitution to recognize and assign roles to traditional rulers. He stressed that insulating traditional institutions from political interference would strengthen their ability to contribute to peace, stability, and grassroots development.

According to him, the ongoing reforms at the National Assembly should lead to the creation of a National Council of Traditional Rulers to advise the President, as well as State Councils of Chiefs to support peacebuilding, customary law, and community development.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also canvassed for the incorporation of traditional rulers into Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He argued that allowing traditional leaders to handle customary arbitration and land use disputes would expand access to justice, particularly in rural communities where modern institutions are limited.

He emphasized that traditional rulers have historically played this role, but institutionalizing their functions would make them more effective.

K-RAD further proposed the integration of traditional institutions into resident registration. He explained that their proximity to communities makes them effective in tracking migrants and strangers, thereby enhancing security and providing real-time intelligence to law enforcement agencies.

He added that empowering traditional rulers in this regard could also help reduce indigene-settler conflicts by recognizing long-term residents’ rights, thus minimizing exclusion and tension in communities.

The lecture, which formed part of events marking the Ataoja’s anniversary, was attended by traditional rulers, academics, and dignitaries, including the Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye.