Prof Cookey speaks on constitutional roles for traditional institution
By Amaike Ihuoma Okoronkwo, Port Harcourt
AProfessor of History and the 2nd Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Sylvanus J. S. Cookey, has raised a question to answers for the way forward in the Nigerian traditional system as an Institution.
The question was raised last week during the 80th birthday ceremony of the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers His Majesty, King Jaja of Opobo, King Dr. Dandeson Douglas Jaja JEKI (V) at the traditional rulers secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The controversial as well as fundamental question “Would our lives have been better if our traditional institution was given a constitutional role in our democratic dispensation” came as a response from the public lecture titled “Traditional Institution In Nigeria’s Democracy” being a lecture delivered by His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, mni, Obi of Onitsha to mark the 80th birthday of the monarch.
His Majesty, King Achebe during the said lecture, had ravaged through the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, ex-raying the pre-colonial and post-colonial setbacks the Nigerian Traditional Institution had suffered from inception in the hands of colonialists and the military.
King Achebe who is currently the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, a past chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, a trustee of National Council of Traditional Rulers to mention but a few stressed that, “Our traditional institution has been one of the institutions that suffered most in the hands of colonialists who made sure they altered the long existing traditional judicial system (court), the traditional belief system (religion), the traditional medicine etc… of the people and lots more under the traditional administration of our royal fathers to set up what their indirect rule which led to the system of government we have today as democracy.”
From his statement, “It was the military that progressively and studiously diminished the powers and influence of the traditional institution through the take over of local police, prisons and local courts in 1968, The Land Use Decree of 1978, the creation of new states and local government areas. The 1976 local government reforms which transferred the administrative and legislative roles of traditional rulers to the newly created Local Government Councils.”
As an experienced Monarch and Astute Historical Nigerian, he maintained that our traditional rulers by all standards are closely linked with the people in the grassroots and so understand the problems of our people intimately.
Citing cases of insecurity and other threats to which security agents within some communities had run to our royal fathers seeking for better alternative approach, King Achebe wonder what other evidence Nigerians should need before doing the needful as it concerns our traditional institution.
“In essence our royal fathers have displayed in no small measures that they understand the peoples culture and tradition unto which they are custodians.”
Responding to the issues raised, HRH Eze Felix Enene Otuwarikpo, Eze Igbu (III) Upata Kingdom Rivers State had cried out to all Nigerians to help lift the political neglect meted out to Nigerian traditional institution by negligence.
He maintained that the Nigerian Traditional Institution had become an endangered species in a system it ought not be and the need to revisit the Nigerian constitution with the view to given our traditional institution a constitutional role with the royal fathers incorporated as custodians of the peoples culture and tradition.
Other highlight of the event included the cutting of the 80th birthday cake by the celebrant, his citation and the response by the Rivers state Governor Barr. Nyesom Wike ably represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo. The Chairman of the occasion was the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi, Otu (V).
