It gladdens my heart to read from both the online and conventional media that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) recently wrote to a traditional ruler in Ogun State, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, the Olu Owode Egba in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, warning him on the need to handle the nation’s currency with dignity and respect.

I commend the NOA for lending his voice to condemn the wanton abuse that many Nigerians have subjected the naira to.

However, the concerned Ogun traditional ruler has since apologized to the National Orientation Agency and indeed the Federal Government for his action, saying he was overwhelmed and carried away by the euphoria that greeted his wife’s birthday.

Oba Kolawole Sowemimo is a respected traditional ruler in Ogun State who has since his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, championed causes that engender and promote unity, peace, progress and development of his domain, Ogun State and Nigeria. He has never been involved in such act before, and will not engage in it again.

The Olu Owode Egba is a respecter of law, and not a law breaker. He is known for always championing peace and development of Owode Egba. Therefore, there is no need to dissipate energy on his mistake, which he has since apologised about. Please, let the sleeping dogs lie peacefully.

Be that as it may, the NOA needs to be decisive in its advocacy to save the Naira from further abuse. The National Orientation Agency needs to comb the internet and social media to see the level of abuse of our national symbol – the Naira. As much as I would not want to justify the recent action of Olu Owode Egba, I can say emphatically that his level of culpability is insignificant compared to what other Nigerians engage in.

It then behooves on the NOA to extend its drag nets to this class of people who are mostly influential members of our society. The agency needs to identify and write all of them so that the advocacy against the abuse of the Naira can achieve the desired result.

Sola Adeoye, public affairs commentator writes from Sango Ota, Ogun State.