Ohanaeze Rejects Bill to Crown Ooni and Sultan as Permanent Traditional Heads, Citing Ethnic Bias and Constitutional Breach

 

Tensions have flared in Nigeria’s traditional leadership landscape following a strong statement by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide condemning a bill currently before the Senate. The proposed legislation seeks to enshrine the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as the only permanent Co-Chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers. The influential Igbo socio-cultural group has labeled the move discriminatory, unjust, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s federal character principles.

The bill, which has already passed its second reading in the upper legislative chamber, has sparked outrage across several quarters, particularly among those advocating for balanced representation of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities. Ohanaeze’s spokesperson, Ezechi Chukwu, issued a blistering statement from Enugu, calling the bill a threat to equity and social harmony in the country.

Describing the Senate’s approach as lopsided, Chukwu questioned the rationale behind granting such exclusive and permanent recognition to only two traditional rulers in a nation that is home to hundreds of revered monarchs from various ethnic groups. He emphasized that no ethnic bloc should monopolize symbolic leadership, especially in a country as culturally diverse and politically complex as Nigeria.

Chukwu asserted that the proposed elevation not only sidelines other respected royal institutions but also undermines the spirit of collective unity that the council was intended to uphold. “This kind of asymmetric legislation defies all logic and ignores the constitutional doctrine of fairness and equal representation,” he said.

According to Ohanaeze, the bill, if passed, would have deep implications for national cohesion. The group warned that prioritizing two traditional leaders over others could fuel feelings of marginalization and second-class citizenship among other regions, particularly in the South-East, South-South, and Middle Belt.

“This is not just about traditional titles or ceremonial rankings,” Chukwu stressed. “It is about institutional equity, historical identity, and the protection of the socio-cultural dignity of every ethnic nationality within Nigeria’s federation.”

Ohanaeze called on the Senate to reconsider the implications of the proposed law, highlighting that a structure that permanently crowns two individuals from specific regions as the sole leaders of a national council is fundamentally flawed. The group urged lawmakers to withdraw the bill promptly and initiate a broader consultative process that would include voices from all geopolitical zones and ethnic affiliations.

The organisation also reminded the Senate that its role as a legislative body is to foster unity and uphold constitutional balance, not to deepen divisions through ethnically exclusive policies. “By entertaining and advancing such a bill, the Senate is failing in its solemn responsibility to represent the collective interest of all Nigerians, irrespective of region or religion,” the statement added.

Ohanaeze further argued that the true spirit of the Traditional Rulers Council lies in rotational leadership or a consensus-based structure, one that reflects the multiplicity of Nigeria’s cultural heritage. Assigning permanent co-chairmanship to two traditional rulers creates a power imbalance and risks turning a national institution into an exclusive club.

Echoing similar sentiments, several observers have noted that traditional leadership in Nigeria should be representative of the entire federation. Many critics of the bill say that no single cultural zone should dominate a body intended to act as a unifying forum for all regions.

With rising calls for inclusive governance across all tiers, Ohanaeze’s objection is gaining traction among other regional groups, who have also voiced concerns about what they perceive as attempts to centralize traditional influence in specific parts of the country.

The statement concluded with a passionate appeal for national unity and equity, reminding lawmakers that legislative decisions should always align with the larger interest of social stability and peaceful coexistence.

As the Senate prepares to deliberate further on the controversial proposal, the outcome could either affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity or set a precedent for ethnic dominance in national institutions. For now, Ohanaeze has drawn a clear line, warning that any attempt to push the bill through without widespread consensus would be met with continued resistance from marginalized groups across the nation.