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Ɓy Gloria Ikibah

Traditional rulers in Zone A North Central, have urged the National Assembly to restore their Constitutional roles they have been guaranteed in the previous Nigerian Constitutions which were expunged in the 1999 Constitution.

They made the call at the Zonal Public hearing on the Constitution amendment for Zone A North Central, comprising of Niger, Kogi and Kwara States held in Minna, Niger state on Saturday.

In a submission on behalf of the Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar informed that, prior to the 1999 Constitution, traditional rulers have played active role in the implementation of government policies and governance at local level through clear cut administrative jurisdictions.

He said, “I am going to speak on behalf of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Co-Chairced by His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife and members in all the 36 states and Abuja and members of this Council, Emirs, Obas and Obis of this Council.

“We believe that, traditional rulers in Nigeria decided to freely associate and share a common principle of fairness, justice and equity, and to jointly offer useful advice, cooperation and assistance to governments at all levels and to safeguard the traditions, cultures and values of their respective circles.

“Between the years 1920s and 1960s, the traditional rulers were very-very influential and in charge of the Native Authorities and institutions. In the first Republic, regional governments have governance arrangements, so all these things were included in our previous Constitutions.

“Up to the 1979 Constitution, we had some roles to play as traditional institutions. However, the 1999 revised Constitution, actually cleaned out these basic roles of the traditional institutions thereby breaking the link between the government and governed. This link has been very much effective in the other Constitutions and the years passed.

“So, since we had that broken link between the government and the governed, we have so many challenges, especially in the areas of security and mobilisation of our people and even programmes and policies of government cannot be actually implemented satisfactorily. So, we are praying that, this time around that link will be joined again. The broken link that we have between the government and the governed in the art of governance to be joined so that we have the advantages of governance.

“So, we, on our own side, we made some recommendations, we put some observations all contained in our Memo that we submit to this Committee. We hope, it is important that, the Committees, the National Assembly Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and by extension, the National Assembly as a whole ensure that, the Constitutional provision is made with a view to creating roles for traditional rulers in matters involving religion, culture, security, justice and other ancilliary matters.

“The Constitutional provisions should provide for states to Enact laws to cater for peculiar matters relating to traditional rulers in the respective states. In addition, the Chairman of State council of chiefs should be recognized by the Constitution as members of the Council of States it has been in all the Nigerian Constitutions except that of 1999”.

In his opening address earlier, the Chairman North Central Center A, Deputy Majority Leader, Rep. Ali Abdullahi Ibrahim assured the participants that, the House Committee on Constitution Review headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu would be thorough and do justice to all submissions in an objective manner to give Nigerians the Constitution they deserve.

He said, “The House has debated all the issues and thereby created the avenue for this further legislative action so as to ensure participation of Nigerians and other very important stakeholders in the process of the amendment.

“A lot of dust has been raised on the need to again alter the constitution of the country. What of dust? Ranging from one issue to another. However, it should be noted that this same constitution has been formally amended five good times, with the most recent in the last 9th assembly. That was signed into law in 2023.

“This public hearing is another opportunity for stakeholders and citizens to air their views and contribute to improving the living condition and standard of all Nigerians, as well as contributing to the institutional strengthening that is next week to make the country great again. We have the obligation to do what we must do to strengthen the country. We have the obligation to ensure that no group is marginalized or oppressed.

“Permit me also to emphasize that the key to the unity of this great nation lies mostly in this exercise. The significance of this cannot be overemphasized as the outcome will go in long. way in the history of this great country either to make or mind to this and I wish to order every presenter to do what would bring growth unity peace and development to Nigeria”.