Traditional rulers and the clamour for constitutional roles

There are merits in the recent renewed clamour for clearly defined constitutional roles for traditional rulers as part of fresh national strategy to promote peace, conflict resolution, good governance and advancing community development in the country.

It is also a matter of fact that such statutory recognition, which we believe is long overdue, will place our royal fathers in better stead to fully harness their innate potential and contribute their quota more meaningfully in complementing the government’s ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s numerous socio-economic and security challenges.

Agitation for well-defined constitutional functions for monarchs we recall, received a massive boost recently, when President Bola Tinubu at a meeting of the Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, hosted by Lagos State government, strongly recommended that their duties be spelt out in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) just as it was with the Republican Constitution of 1963, rather than restricting them to function as mere custodians of the nation’s culture and tradition.

Regrettably, however, before now, the absence of statutory functions and formal recognition had obviously limited the influence of traditional rulers in the governance architecture and left them at the whims and caprices of public office holders like governors and local government chairmen.

For instance, some of the royal fathers, in an apparent attempt to be counted among core loyalists of politically exposed persons or be in their good books, had publicly endorsed some of the politicians vying for certain public offices in utter disregard to the dictates of their exalted positions requiring them to be apolitical and father to all contestants.

It is therefore not surprising that President Tinubu while advocating for the reinstatement of due recognition lost in the 1999 Constitution for the traditional institution in the proposed alteration of the document, firmly resolved to liaise with the National Assembly in order to correct the lacuna and grant monarchs desirable legal status within the governance system.

Not surprising too, his proposal got the full backing of many governors, who believe that the time is ripe to tap into the wisdom of experienced monarchs in a coordinated and structured manner for them to upscale their contributions to national development as partners in progress.

Therefore, in throwing our full weight behind the proposed amendment, we counsel that necessary provisions be inserted in the document also, that will not only uphold the sanctity of the traditional institution but make deposition of royal fathers by politicians very cumbersome, if not impossible.
In similar vein, the appointment and removal of any monarch shouldn’t be at the discretion of sitting state governors and local government chairmen but must follow due process spelt out by the traditional institution and the relevant extant laws.

Besides, it’s high time that their roles in the current democratic dispensation be formalized and not left to the discretion of the government in power.

Consequently, the recent submission of the Olota of Ota in Ogun State, Oba Professor Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege that traditional rulers be integrated into constitutional framework to restrict them to various dormains, harness their authority and assets in promoting peace, further mediate in conflicts among subjects and advance community development as well as complementing the government’s efforts in building peaceful and harmonious society is welcome.

For him, such constitutional stipulation will go a long way to reduce political interference, restore respect and dignity of the traditional institution and insulate the selection of royal fathers from political interference and ensure that only the right persons are installed in traditional stools after due consultation with kingmakers and heads of ruling houses.

Again, since the security and welfare of the people remain the primary purpose of government, it is imperative and a matter of national urgency that royal fathers be formally recognized and their functions enshrined in the ongoing amendment of the Constitution to enable them work more closely with security agencies in the current war against criminals nationwide.

Such recognition most importantly, we believe will enable traditional rulers to assume a more effective role of upholding and promoting the nation’s rich cultural heritage hitherto bestowed on the government.
Even though the 1999 Nigerian Constitution does not grant traditional rulers any formal recognition or official role in governance, they are subject to the authority of governors and local government councils while their power is based on customary law and influence, which is recognized by the Constitution, which gives legal backing to existing statutes and customary laws that govern chieftaincy matters.

Their functions include serving “as mediators between government and communities, preserving culture, and promote peace through conflict resolution; community development, social welfare, and maintaining law and order”.

Besides, they have been active in settling disputes and reconciling parties in local conflicts, a role that is crucial for maintaining community harmony; serve as a strong link between government and communities thereby communicating government policies and mandates to the grassroots and conveying community concerns to the government as well as ensuring cultural preservation as custodians of their people’s culture, traditions, and heritage, which contributes to the overall stability and identity of the community and mobilize people for development projects and contribute to their social welfare among others.

Indeed, we believe that cultural values, development, security and welfare of citizens are better served at the grassroots’ level if the federal, state and local governments recommit themselves to joining forces with traditional rulers to deliver good governance, while granting constitutional roles to the monarchs is not only a right step in the right direction but the needed impetus to actualize such objectives. It therefore behoves the Senate, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly in the 36 states to expedite legislative action in the current amendment of the Constitution with a view to assigning statutory roles to royal fathers in the country.