Ohanaeze Rejects Bill on Traditional Rulers’ Council Naming Sultan, Ooni as Council Heads

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has come out hard against a proposed Senate bill that seeks to name the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as the only co-chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

The group described the bill as unjust, exclusionary, and a threat to the unity of Nigeria.

Dr Ezechi Chukwu, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, condemning the bill as a violation of Nigeria’s federal character principle.

“We are profoundly astounded by the rationale for such an asymmetric bill by the Senate, with its utter disregard for fairness, equity, justice, and the principle of federal character,” he said.

He accused the Nigerian Senate of failing in its responsibility to protect the values of democracy and national balance.

“The Senate, in this vein, has failed in its capacity as the highest legislative carrier and custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate,” he added.

Bill Lacks Justice and Inclusivity, Says Ohanaeze

According to Ohanaeze, the bill is not only biased but also dangerously divisive for a country as multi-ethnic as Nigeria.

“This bill is not only inequitable, discriminatory, and ethnocentric, it is equally distasteful, reprehensible, and objectionable,” Chukwu stated.

The organisation argued that the bill fails to take into account the diverse traditional institutions spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. It said this kind of legislative move alienates entire regions and cultures.

Ohanaeze also noted that traditional leadership in Nigeria should not be treated as the exclusive preserve of a particular religion or region.

“It lacks all the ethical considerations, objective metrics, and unbiased categories for national unity and social justice,” the group insisted.

Calls for Withdrawal and National Dialogue

The group did not just criticise. It also called for a reworking of the bill through national consultation that honours the country’s diverse heritage.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo hence calls 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,” Chukwu urged.

He warned that anything short of this would continue to fuel regional suspicion and deepen ethnic fault lines.

“It is only by so doing that the bill can foster national unity, peaceful co-existence, and social stability,” he said.

The statement has sparked discussions among citizens, especially in the South-East and South-South, over what many see as a recurring pattern of cultural sidelining. Should traditional leadership be rotated or shared across regions for equity?

For constitutional references on federal character principles, visit the Nigerian Constitution.

Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!