Monarchs Seek New Nigeria, Constitutional Inclusion

Watched carefully by a nervous international community and edgy neighbours, the nation’s internal temperature is clearly rising dangerously. At press time, unresolved and often ignored governance issues discourage hope of quick solutions. From the North, Middle Belt and South, terrorism in different nuances pull at the heartstrings of the Nigerian state. Ethnic nationalism, a direct consequence of glaring and serial failures of governance, flare up in different zones. The foregoing scenario may have compelled the nation’s traditional rulers, an often ignored but very important leadership component of society to meet recently in Port Harcourt and seek a safer nation as well as brainstorm on their own future as custodians of culture.

With good reason, they were very specific. The monarchs cited herdsmen’s incessant attacks, Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping, killings, armed robbery and joblessness, among others, as part of the national challenges needing urgent attention. Without mincing words, Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, who spoke at the opening of the council’s 9th General Assembly in Port Harcourt, called on the Federal Government to institute a high powered commission of inquiry to investigate the killings across the country.

His words at the event also themed: ‘Community Policing as a Catalyst to Crime Prevention – The Role of Traditional Rulers,’: “As we are meeting, if what is happening is failure of governance, we will discuss it in details and come up with an appropriate report to help government and the Nigerian society.” According to him, the traditional rulers are capable of stating things the way they are without sentiments in order to move the nation forward.

Bringing more insight to bear on the weighty national security challenge, he noted that, “We existed before 1914, so we have seen it all. We are there permanently unlike the political office holders that have tenures. We must close ranks as traditional rulers to help build Nigeria; let us build the comradeship we have among us down to the communities and let’s mean what we say, and say what we mean. Our coming together is unique. It implies that nothing can divide us. So, let us reduce the tension in the country because this is the time for statesmen to work for Nigeria. Let us stand and face the people that want to destroy our country” He also urged the security agencies to always seek the support of the royal fathers because they had the network to help them.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State called on the Federal Government to decentralize the security architecture in the country. He noted that the country’s security would be achieved if the governors were allowed to control the security of their states. The governor pointed out that the centralization of the police has not favoured the country’s security. His words: “For us in Rivers State, our position on state and community policing is very clear. While we join our voices to other well-meaning Nigerians to strongly and emphatically demand for the decentralization and depoliticization of security services, we are also not resting on the back of helplessness to do nothing. “The reality before the nation is that centralized policing has flatly failed and is incapable of resolving the enormous security challenges of a vast and culturally diverse country like Nigeria. “And even as we may continue to live in denial, the recurring bloodbaths in Benue, Taraba and other states have, once again, exposed the weaknesses of our country’s centralized policing system as well as the frustrations and near complete helplessness of state governors in their quest to provide adequate security for the communities and the people that they govern.”

On his part, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, pleaded with the traditional rulers to put politics aside and work assiduously towards meeting the challenges in the country. According to him, “Some sections of Nigeria are aggrieved and some feel oppressed. Let us come together and take up this challenge so that no one will blame us. Let us put politics aside, engage in peer review, apply sense of right and wrong, and speak the truth. The responsibility lies on our head; we must stop the blame game and stop talking the talk but walk the talk.” King Dandeson Jaja, the Amayanabo of Opobo and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, said that Nigerians were eager to hear from the traditional rulers. Jaja urged the Federal Government and the royal fathers to rise above ethnicity and sentiments to tackle the challenges in the country. According to him, “The Federal Government should tackle the economic challenges and deteriorating security situation in the country.” In his own contribution, the Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional rulers and Obi of Owa, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, said politics met the traditional institution, so the council wouldn’t allow politics to destroy it. Observing it was the first time the body formed a united front with serious concerns for the country’s peace and development without aligning with any political party, he expressed the hope that the outcome would change the tides.

Constitutional Inclusion…
Another component of monarch’s meeting focused on the imperative of giving them a constitutional role. For His Royal Majesty, Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete Spiff, the role of traditional rulers in making the much-needed impact may not be felt until the institution is recognised by the constitution. He queried: “If your child is in school and his name is not on the register, is he/she in school. We are the traditional rulers in this country, but there is nowhere in the constitution where our role is mentioned or defined. Without the constitutional recognition of our roles, all these sweet and flowery talks may not yield the desired result.” The Chairman, Rivers State Council of traditional rulers and the Amayanabo of Opopo, King Dandeson Jaja, pointed out that traditional rulers were recognised in the past and stressed the need for constitutional recognition to enable the body execute its role effectively.

Also, the Amayanabo of Abonnema in Rivers State, His Royal Highness, Disrael Bobmanuel, later explained that the monarchs took a stand that the killings across the country should be halted and that nothing would revert it. The Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, commended the appropriateness and timeliness of the meeting in a bid to tackle the nation’s security challenges. Represented by Umaru Bello, the SGF said the traditional rulers have a critical role to play in addressing the security situation of the country. He urged government to include traditional rulers in its policy to further strengthen the body and enable it help fight crimes.

Betraying a political savvy and consciousness that may surprise many in his encounter with The SUREMACY Magazine, the visiting First Class Emir of Machina, Yobe State, Dr. Bashir Albirshir Bukar, OON, succinctly captures the essence of his venerable class’s not so secret, long-standing wish. His words: “The political leaders know our value and that is why they normally come to us during political campaigns. But once they get what they want they neglect and relegate us to the back till next round of elections. Let us be given a formal and constitutional advisory role - have an Assembly at all stages of government and its administration, just like in Britain where the monarch is still respected. It’s the Queen that inaugurates the government after elections. “I therefore urge the National Assembly, State Assemblies and the Councils to positively consider incorporating the traditional institution in the nation’s constitution. We are not after or interested in judicial, executive or legislative role, just advisory. We are actually not looking for power or leadership contest with the politicians.” As a safer Nigeria dominates discourse amongst the ranks of royal fathers, their craving for constitutional roles can indeed not be lightly dismissed. The merits and demerits of ending constitutional exclusion of monarchs, against the background of their historical role as guardians of culture and tradition, in the current republican environment of a presidential democracy remain in mainstream debate.