In a vibrant display of community spirit and health awareness, Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, the Olu of Orile-Ilawo, led a 7.5-kilometer health walk across the city of Abeokuta last Wednesday.
The event, which marks a significant initiative as part of his second coronation anniversary celebrations, aimed to promote the importance of physical fitness and healthy living among residents.
The health walk commenced at the Palace of the Monarch and drew participants from diverse backgrounds, including children and elderly people, fitness enthusiasts, and community members eager to support the Kabiyesi's vision for a healthier society.
Participants donned with different kinds of T-shirts emblazoned with motivational slogans, creating an atmosphere of unity and enthusiasm.
As the procession moved through the bustling streets of Abeokuta, Oba MacGregor engaged walkers with encouraging words, emphasizing the numerous benefits of regular physical activities such as walking. “This is not just about fitness but also about fostering a sense of community,” he stated during the walk.
“We must prioritize our health and encourage one another to incorporate simple activities like walking into our daily routines.”
The traditional ruler highlighted that walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise and urged everyone to make it a part of their daily lives.
“Our health is our wealth,” Oba MacGregor proclaimed. “As we celebrate this significant milestone in my reign, let’s remember that in taking care of our bodies, we invest in the future of our community. I encourage every resident to make exercise a priority.”
The event received overwhelming support, with many attendees expressing gratitude for the initiative. Participants remarked on the positive energy of the walk and the invaluable reminder of the connection between physical health and community well-being.
As the Olu of Orile-Ilawo continues his reign, his commitment to the health and wellness of his people reinforces the importance of traditional leadership in addressing contemporary issues.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen after the 7.5klm health walk, Oba McGregor appealed to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government to consider traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in their efforts at creating the state police towards overcoming the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria.
The Ogun monarch emphatically stated that crime prevention in any community, nay country, cannot be effectively achieved without liaison with the traditional institutions which formed that basis for the grassroot governance.
"It is very critical that the federal government considers the impact of the traditional institutions because if you look at the most developed countries of the world, we have the state police. Like we have the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Provincial Police in Canada. These are in addition to the federal forces.
"In actual sense, it is the state Police that has the ability to effectively deliver on crime prevention.
"I dare say that crime prevention cannot be effectively achieved without liaison with the traditional institutions in Nigeria. As the traditional institutions, e know the people that knowledge gives us the native intelligence to know the criminal elements within our society.
"If you give us the power today, we will route out all the criminals in our society and hand them over to the police.
With particular reference to the federal government's renewed efforts at creating the State Police, Oba McGregor declared that state Police tends to give a sense of belonging; a sense of commitment and loyalty to the state and by extension, the people.
"Invariably, there will be healthy competitions among state security apparatus in Nigeria because if a state is doing well and its economy is doing well, investors will throop in there. It will encourage other states to follow likewise.
"There are lots of flaws in the current system of federal policing because it is almost at the revolving doors. The state police working with the traditional institutions will make them phenomenally effective. Insecurity will disappear".
"All the hullabaloo about farmers-herdsmen's conflicts are grassroot issues and can be solved if we sit at the traditional rulers roundtable meeting with the stakeholders, the state and the federal police and tangible solutions will be preferred for the entire country".
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