The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has strongly opposed a bill currently before the Nigerian Senate that proposes the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as permanent co-chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Enugu, the group condemned the bill as unjust and discriminatory, warning that it sidelines other leading traditional rulers from various ethnic nationalities and geopolitical regions across the country.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, described the bill as asymmetric and contrary to the principles of equity, fairness, and federal character enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. He stressed that the bill, which has already passed its second reading in the Senate, undermines inclusivity and threatens national unity.
Chukwu stated, “The Senate has failed in its responsibility as a guardian of the nation’s democratic ideals. This bill is inequitable, discriminatory, and ethnocentric. It is both distasteful and objectionable.”
He further argued that the proposal lacks ethical balance and objective criteria necessary for fostering national cohesion in a diverse country like Nigeria. Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for the immediate withdrawal and review of the bill to reflect cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, and inclusive governance.
“To achieve national unity, peaceful coexistence, and social stability, the bill must be revisited and restructured to ensure equitable representation of all traditional institutions across Nigeria,” Chukwu emphasized.
