Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka reports that the National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong (APC, Plateau South), seeking for recognition of the National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and elevation of the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife as its permanent co-chairmen, if passed into law, has been widely rejected by Nnewi in Anambra – born Prince Orji Nwafor -Orizu and Nigerian ethnic groups.
The Bill in question, has passed first and second readings in the Senate. Critics argue that it promotes ethnic hierarchy and resentment by elevating only two monarchs from specific ethnic groups. They also point out that the Sultan of Sokoto’s role is more religious than traditional, and his elevation would alienate Christians, Traditional Worshippers, and other faiths.
Reacting, the prince from Nnewi ancient Dynasty and Monarchy, Barr Orji Nwafor -Orizu has faulted the Bill in Its entirety, even as he opined should such be done, it should start with his monarch, Igwe Kenneth N. Orizu. Orji Nwafor -Orizu suggested that such Bill should be redrafted and the clause be made to recommend rotational among the geopolitical zones, or else, it be dropped.
Welcoming the Bill, for its importance in the country, and maintaining that the issue of the leadership of NCTRN be done democratically, by rotating it between the geopolitical zones, so as not to look down on any of the ethnic groups, the renowned lawyer advised that there be Houses of Chief in States of the federation. The House of Chiefs, according to him will be playing the role of Senate. While reminding that there were Houses of Chief in each Region before, Prince Orji Nwafor -Orizu said that the upper legislative arm in each state will have elected traditional rulers as members.
However, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) also condemned the the particular clause in the Bill in its entirety, even as they described it as continuous infringement on traditional rulers in Nigeria. They call for a review of the bill to ensure inclusive representation and avoid permanent chairmanship by specific ethnic groups.
The Concerned Hausa Stakeholders (CHS), Kaduna has joined other Nigerians to strongly reject the bill, arguing that it is ethnically biased, historically misleading, and constitutionally indefensible. According to them, the Sultan is a religious leader, not a traditional ruler in the cultural sense. His authority is centered around Islamic religious interests, making his elevation to permanent national traditional leadership misleading and exclusionary.
The Bill, they went on, ignores other major ethnic civilizations, such as the Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, and others, who have their own ancient kingdoms and royal traditions. The group believes that the deliberate marginalization could entrench resentment, division, and institutionalized injustice, adding that by elevating only two monarchs from two ethnic groups, the Bill promotes ethnic hierarchy, not unity. No single monarch, they continued, can represent entire regions or religions, and this move could undermine national cohesion.
Calling for its withdrawal or its fundamental redrafting, the members of the CHS said that any national traditional leadership must reflect ethnic equity, including all indigenous nations, and be based on historical legitimacy, federal character, and inclusive dialogue. They also added that equal leadership should be given to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim leaders, reflecting Nigeria’s religious diversity.
Joined in the condemnation is the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), describing it as a flagrant assault on equity and inclusivity. They call for a nationwide consultation, involving all ethnic nationalities and traditional institutions to chart a more inclusive path for the council’s leadership.
The Igbo socio cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, didn’t hesitate to describe the Bill as a move to not only cause confusion, but also to treat other tribes, their monarchs and traditional institutions and heritage with disregard. in the country has condemned the bill, Adding that the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides the Igbo body was astounded by the rationale for such an asymmetric Bill with its utter disregard for fairness, equity, justice, and the principle of federal character, as enshrined in the constitution.
Ohaneze accused the senate for failure in its capacity as the highest legislative carrier and custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate, by even looking at such bull. “It lacks all the ethical considerations, objective metrics and unbiased categories for national unity and social justice in a pluralist nation-state like Nigeria,” Ohaneze observed with concern.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for the urgent withdrawal of the bill and the need to review it in consideration of ethnic differences, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, inclusive governance, and equitable representation, adding: “It is only by so doing shall the bill foster national unity, peaceful co-existence and social stability.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has also expressed opposition to the clause in the National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024, which makes the Sultan of Sokoto a permanent co-chairman.
The group, regretted that the piece of legislation, currently before the National Assembly, was sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and a respected son of the Middle Belt and the Gwad-Goemai of the Goemai ethnic nationality.
The group noted: “At the heart of the controversy lies a deeply troubling clause in the Bill which proposes that the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife be made permanent co-chairmen of the proposed National Council for Traditional Rulers,” adding: “While we leave our esteemed partners from the Southern region, to determine their position on the inclusion of the Ooni of Ife, the Middle Belt Forum unequivocally rejects, abhors, and condemns the institutionalisation of the Sultan of Sokoto as a permanent co-chairman of this proposed council.
“This rejection is anchored on strong historical, cultural, constitutional, and moral grounds, which we now outline in clear terms, because the Sokoto Sultanate is historically junior to Middle Belt monarchies. Historically, the Sokoto Caliphate is a relatively young institution compared to ancient kingdoms and confederacies in the Middle Belt. For instance, the Kwararafa Confederacy, which flourished for centuries, predates the Caliphate. It is a historically documented fact that the confederate state of Kwarafa existed right back to circa 800s-1700s A.D.”
Demanding for inclusive leadership, it is clear that the ethnic groups are united in their demand for inclusive leadership and representation in the National Council for Traditional Rulers. They argue that any national traditional leadership must be based on historical legitimacy, federal character, and inclusive dialogue, not political favoritism.
They however further demanded for immediate withdrawal of the bill and a review that accounts for ethnic differences, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, and inclusive governance; rotational leadership model to reflect Nigeria’s federal character and cultural pluralism, nationwide consultation involving all ethnic nationalities and traditional institutions to chart a more inclusive path for the council’s leadership and recognition of traditional rulers from diverse ethnic groups, including the Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Tiv, and others.
