The Tukur Yusuf Buratai Humanity Care Foundation has called on the National Assembly to re-establish the roles of traditional rulers in matters involving religion, culture, security, justice and other ancillary matters in the Nigerian Constitution.
A statement by the national coordinator of the foundation, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi, stated that the current constitution has relegated the traditional institution to the background with no constitutional roles.
He recalled that the Ironsi’s 1966 Unitary Government Decree, Gen Gowon’s 1967 Local Government Reform Decree and that of Gen Obasanjo’s 1976 Local Government Reform Decree stripped traditional rulers of their powers and gave the same to the local government councils.
He said prior to the 1976 local government reforms,” Nigeria was at that time progressive, peaceful, decent and full of beautiful traditions and cultures. But today with the influence of social media and unrestricted contents detrimental to our culture and tradition we have continued to subconsciously aid the continued subversion of our values. To make any sovereign state weak and its eventual collapse is to subvert its cultural values first Nigerians must be conscious of this fact.”
The grand patron of the foundation Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd) had observed that “modern Nigeria’s origin was based on the political, social and economic roots of Nigeria’s empires, kingdoms and chiefdoms firmly established before the colonial rule.
“These empires, kingdoms and chiefdoms were well administered by the Emirs, Obas and Obis. These traditional rulers wielded powers and authority that helped to douse conflicts and ensure criminals had no hiding places. Progress and developments took place in their domains.”
He said as it is today, “traditional rulers do not have the constitutional or other legal backing to perform effectively as they are not even mentioned in the 1999 constitution. This is a great departure from all earlier constitutions that recognised them, and even gave them some functions to perform. Such functions include maintaining peace and security which made the work of the police, the military and the government officials much easier”.
The foundation agrees and supports the position of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria that: “Traditional rulers should be accorded specific responsibilities for conflict and security management in their domains. This involvement, devoid of partisanship, would enable active participation of traditional institutions in matters pertaining to the maintenance of peace and security in their communities.”
The TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation also concurs with the traditional rulers that, ”The constitutional provision should provide for states to enact state laws to cater for specific peculiar matters relating to traditional rulers in the respective states. In addition, the Chairmen of the States Councils of Chiefs should be recognised by the constitution as Members of the Council of State as it has been in all the Nigerian Constitutions, except the 1999 one.”
He commended the Senate Constitution Review Committee and called on all lawmakers at the national and state Assemblies to support the position of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria. “They should ratify all the recommendations pertaining to the roles of the traditional rulers by the Senate Constitution Review Committee. The support by the various state governors to their State Assemblies in this regard is also fundamental. The State Governor should allow the process to go through unhindered. The Year 2023 is the election year. We urge all politicians and Nigerians generally to abide by the rules of the game,” he said.
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