Sanwo-Olu, Uzodimma lead talks on constitutional role for Traditional rulers
...says military era stripped monarchs of rightful powers
Two state governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo, have launched a forceful call for a constitutional framework to officially restore the roles of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s governance system.
Speaking yesterday, they lamented that decades of military rule systematically eroded the legal and moral authority of monarchs, leaving their influence weak and largely ceremonial.
The governors made their joint case at a high-level meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), themed: "The Traditional Institution: The Imperative of Its Inclusion in Effective and Efficient Governance in Nigeria."
The event was chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and co-chaired by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, drawing key monarchs from all regions.
Governor Uzodimma asserted that the relevance of traditional rulers is unquestionable, but stressed that the system's failure to provide legal backing for their statutory responsibilities is the core issue.
He pointed out that under Nigeria's early constitutions, such as the 1963 Republican Constitution, the traditional council system was a recognized governance arm, with roles including legislative participation.
He specifically cited Section 34(2)(ii) of the 1963 Constitution, which granted legislative representation to the Oba of Lagos and other chiefs a model that existed across the Northern, Western, and Mid-Western regions before being scrapped by the 1979 and 1999 constitutions.
While advocating for legal recognition, Governor Uzodimma cautioned traditional rulers against being drawn into partisan politics.
“Your relevance is not in question and will never be. What is questionable is the failure of the system to give legal backing to a role it already depends on,” Uzodimma stated, stressing that neutrality is the strength of the traditional institution.
“Don’t let anyone drag your stool into the arena. A word from the palace, spoken in truth, can shape the direction of a state.”
Echoing the position, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that military regimes “significantly eroded the laudable roles traditional rulers played in Nigeria’s political and cultural development.”
He acknowledged the important role many royal fathers played in the nation’s democratic journey, citing the late Awujale of Ijebuland and other monarchs who supported President Bola Tinubu and pro-democracy activists during the military era.
"Our traditional rulers are gradually asserting themselves back into national consciousness. But we are not yet there. The right thing is to push for constitutional relevance and we will support that push," Sanwo-Olu declared.
The Lagos governor called for a structured national framework where monarchs would play defined peacebuilding and conflict-resolution roles, arguing that their authority would become a vital asset against heightened insecurity and socio-economic strain.
"When traditional leaders are woven into our governance framework, their authority becomes an asset for peace, conflict resolution, and development." He said.
The call received overwhelming support from monarchs present, including the Sultan, the Ooni, and various regional kings.
They warned that ignoring traditional institutions undermines social cohesion and community trust, adding that most grassroots conflicts could be prevented or resolved faster if monarchs were legally empowered to act as mediators and custodians of justice.
The Sultan of Sokoto said the meeting was initiated with the aim to further strengthen peaceful coexistence and cohesive relationship among different ethnic communities in the country, leveraging traditional leadership.
Abubakar III said the NCTRN believed in the country’s unity, urging members to continue to forge a united front and support the efforts of the government to bring peace and stability to the country.
Ooni of Ife called for abrogation of the law that placed the authority of first class kings under the leadership of Local Government Area chairman, stressing that the roles of the traditional rulers had been further relegated by the constitutional provisions placing them under the council’s authority.
Oba Adeyeye said the political class should heed the call for the restoration of the statutory privileges hitherto granted the traditional institutions to truly make them the moral guardians of the country.
Chairman of the coordinating committee of the meeting and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, said the traditional institutions, by virtue of their revered positions, remained the bedrock of success of the government.
“The traditional institutions have been an enduring heritage of the people from which different people that make up Nigeria have come to identify with and see as moral guides,” Etsu Nupe said.