THE COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS

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The bill for the creation of council of traditional rulers is flawed, contends IFEANYICHUKWU AFUBA


 Five months after it came up for second reading at the Senate, former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong’s bill for creation of a national council for traditional rulers, has continued to receive knocks. Although the focus of widespread criticism of the bill, namely, designation of Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife, as permanent co – chairman, has reportedly been denied by proponents of the bill, that disclaimer does not salvage the intended legislation. The said bill is defective by reasons of misconception, divisiveness, dysfunction and administrative burden, to mention a few. It is to be noted that the flawed proposal for a structure of traditional rulers at the centre is an old one. It was one of the unfinished plans of former President, late Umaru Yar’Adua. However, the fanciful idea had rarely overcome it’s opaque outline in terms of detailed usefulness. The historical difficulty in creating a role for traditional rulers in our republican system is because at the end of the day, it boils down to a power – grab venture. Inconsistencies between the character of accountable government and the monarchy have made the advocates unwilling or unable to define the basis of this agenda. In the instant case, Lalong’s bill is at once a romanticisation of the monarchy and power scheme. In effect, there’s no new foundation on which to stand the push of this pressure group.


However, beyond the historical involvement of the monarchy in government set out as general principles, Lalong’s bill latches on to a strange notion of security for contemporary relevance. We have excerpts on his case for the bill from The Nation of March 13, 2025. “When there are crises and killings, the first thing people say is, let’s hold the traditional ruler responsible. It is true, in their communities, they know everybody, including criminals. We need to charge them with responsibilities where they will be committed. But for now, you can’t hold them responsible. They ask to be given a role. So, I don’t see how we can jettison that when we are struggling for a constitutional amendment with respect to security. If we don’t have security, every other thing we are doing is rubbish.” Mercifully, this submission did not hold to the fantasy of preservation of culture upon which agitation for governmental recognition was often made. Yet, Lalong’s raison d’etre for the bill is two – fold; one dominantly and boldly expressed, the other, subtly and passively canvassed. The thrust of the Senator’s comment is on the perceived contribution the proposed body can make towards public peace. But this advocacy carries with it an undertone about traditional rulers being sidelined in the scheme of things; the office not receiving deserving recognition as complementary leadership. 

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