The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has faulted the proposed bill at the Senate seeking to officially designate the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as permanent Co-Chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.
The Ohanaeze warned that such a move marginalises other ethnic nationalities and violates principles of fairness and equity.
The organisation, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, described the bill, which has already passed second reading, as discriminatory, ethnocentric and unjust.
Ohanaeze stated that it was “astounded” by the rationale behind the bill, accusing the Senate of utter disregard for fairness, equity, justice and the principle of federal character, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
According to Chukwu, “The Senate in this vein has failed in its capacity as the highest legislative carrier and custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate.”
He described the bill as inequitable, discriminatory and objectionable, arguing that it falls short of ethical and constitutional standards required in a multi-ethnic, pluralistic society like Nigeria.
“This bill is not only inequitable, discriminatory and ethnocentric, it is equally distasteful, reprehensible and objectionable,” Chukwu added.
The group called on the Senate to urgently withdraw the bill, warning that passing it into law could damage national cohesion.
“It lacks all the ethical considerations, objective metrics and unbiased categories for national unity and social justice in a pluralist nation-state like Nigeria,” Chukwu maintained.
He stressed the need for the Senate to instead review the bill with due consideration for Nigeria’s ethnic diversity, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance and inclusive governance.
“It is only by so doing shall the bill foster national unity, peaceful co-existence and social stability,” the statement concluded.
Naijaonpoint reports that the controversial bill, which is currently before the upper legislative chamber, proposes the permanent elevation of the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife as co-chairmen of the traditional rulers’ council, a move that has sparked criticism from various quarters over perceived ethnic favouritism and lack of nationwide consensus.
While supporters argue the bill would give structure and continuity to the council’s leadership, critics, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, insist that it disregards the roles of other first-class traditional rulers from other regions, including the South-East, South-South and Middle Belt.
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