The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has strongly criticised a proposed bill in the Nigerian Senate seeking to permanently designate the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as exclusive Co-Chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the group described the bill as discriminatory and a violation of Nigeria’s federal character principles.
Chukwu expressed dismay over the Senate’s endorsement of the bill, which has already passed its second reading, arguing that it marginalises traditional rulers from other ethnic groups and geopolitical zones.
He emphasised that the move disregards fairness, equity, and justice, which are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. “The Senate has failed in its duty as the custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate,” Chukwu stated, labelling the bill as “ethnocentric, reprehensible, and objectionable”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo warned that the proposed legislation could undermine national unity by favouring two prominent monarchs while excluding other first-class traditional rulers from regions such as the South-East, South-South, and Middle Belt. The group called for the bill’s immediate withdrawal and urged the Senate to revise it to reflect Nigeria’s ethnic diversity, cultural sensitivity, and geopolitical balance. “Only an inclusive approach will foster peaceful coexistence and social stability,” Chukwu stressed.
The controversy highlights longstanding tensions over representation and power-sharing in Nigeria’s pluralistic society. While supporters argue the bill would provide structured leadership for the traditional rulers’ council, critics like Ohanaeze contend it perpetuates regional favouritism.
The organisation’s stance aligns with its broader advocacy for equitable governance, as seen in its past condemnations of perceived marginalisation, including the Senate’s refusal to honour former electoral chief Humphrey Nwosu and its opposition to state governors’ interference in local government autonomy.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
