By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The neglect of grassroots engagement by political officeholders has been identified as a major setback for community development and the delivery of democratic dividends across local communities in Nigeria.

The traditional ruler of Esa-Oke, Oba Adediran Adeyemi, made this assertion while fielding questions from journalists at Ido-Osun, Egbedore local government area of Osun

He emphasised that prioritising grassroots development is essential for effective governance in a democratic society.

He criticised Nigerian leaders for failing to reach out to people at the grassroots, which has created a significant communication gap between the leaders and the populace.

According to Oba Adeyemi, “Ordinarily, the people at the grassroots should not suffer neglect of basic infrastructure if their respective political leaders are having constant interactions with them.”

He added that leadership should be about addressing the needs of the people.

“Many people at the grassroots or local communities are wondering why most Nigerian leaders have continued to fail in this direction. Our leaders must reach out to those in the grassroots for effective and fast development of local communities. Development should be taken to the people in rural communities, and political leaders should always interface with their people for the sake of development,” he said.

The monarch also commended religious leaders and institutions for their role in supporting citizens, especially during the current economic challenges.

“I believe the church is playing a significant role in assisting its members and also praying for the nation’s growth and development,” he noted.

On the issue of youth migration, popularly referred to as “japa,” Oba Adeyemi expressed understanding for young Nigerians seeking greener pastures abroad, blaming the collapse of many small and medium enterprises on the prevailing economic hardship.

“Those who ‘japa’ out of the country are doing so because of the economic problems confronting the nation. If care is not taken, any business you engage in will suffer a setback because of the ugly state of the nation’s economy. I am appealing to our leaders to take swift action to fast-track the development of the country by focusing on grassroots development,” he said.