Concerned about what he saw as a rising trend of state governments using the protocols of enthroning traditional stools to gain influence, former vice president Atiku Abubakar voiced his concerns.
In the most recent general election, Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, emphasised the need to shield traditional institutions from the capriciousness of state administrations.
The former vice president claimed in a statement released on Tuesday via his X handle that if the traditional rulers’ ascent structure is unstable, it will be harder to keep communities peaceful and orderly.
As a result, he demanded constitutional revision that would both acknowledge established institutions in the country’s legal system and specify the duties associated with each office.
According to Atiku, there has been an increasing trend in the country for state governments to misrepresent the procedures involved in enthroning traditional stools.
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It is a fact that confronts us from every angle across the nation.
“While it makes sense that the state government has exclusive jurisdiction over traditional rulership institutions, it must be proven that these institutions are a part of our system of government through the local government authority.
Therefore, it is necessary to shield established institutions from state governments’ arbitrary actions, which jeopardise their stability.
Maintaining peace and order in communities will become more challenging when the system of traditional ruler ascent is unstable.
“Despite the fact that our constitution as it now does not provide traditional institutions any recognition, history makes it abundantly evident that they play crucial roles in both the upkeep of communal peace and security and the economic life of their respective areas.
“I want to remind everyone that before colonialists arrived, indigenous institutions constituted the governing structures. And they exercised good governance. As a result, these are establishments that we need to defend, maintain, and not demolish.
Because of this, I tend to support constitutional reform efforts that aim to clarify the roles of established legal institutions and to acknowledge them as legitimate entities within our legal system.
Given the widespread efforts to halt the obnoxious wave of terrorism and various local security issues, this reform is even more crucial.
Finally, I have to urge state governors to treat traditional institution posts with the deference they deserve. The entirety of our collective history is embodied in the traditions that our traditional leaders uphold.
