Ogbakha-Edo Rejects Bill Seeking To Install Ooni Of Ife, Sultan of Sokoto As Permanent Co-Chairman Of NCTR

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Ogbakha-Edo Indigenous Peoples Welfare Foundation speaking on behalf of the revered and culturally conscious people of Benin has rejected in totality the controversial Bill seeking to install the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as permanent Co-chairmen of Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers (NCTR).

The bill, which has sparked widespread criticism, is being seen by many as a threat to Nigeria’s federal character, equity, and the constitutional principle that no tribe, region, or religion should be regarded as superior to another.

Reacting to the development at a press conference in Benin, Edo State capital, Chairman and Secretary of the group, Professor Sam Guobadia and Hon. Dr. Andrew Osaretin Izekor, respectively stated that the move would be at the expense of height traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides and therefore reject in totality any attempt to undermine or diminish the authority of the Oba of Benin.

The press statement signed by the duo and made available to The9JaTREND read:

“The Ogbakha-Edo, speaking on behalf of the revered and culturally conscious people of Benin, hereby express in the strongest terms their deep-seated disapproval and profound indignation at the widely circulated reports of a proposed bill before the National Assembly. This bill, according to credible sources, seeks to constitutionally enshrine the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as permanent co-chairmen of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers.

“This ill-conceivedand historically unjustifiableproposal is not only logically flawed but also provocative, divisive, and culturally offensive. It represents a blatant attempt to institutionalize supremacy where none exists, and to exploit past protocols of convenience – wherein these rulers merely led delegations for the sake of political expediency – as a basis for permanent constitutional recognition.

“The Benin people, anchored in centuries of cultural pride and historical sovereignty, vehemently reject any move that seeks to subordinate the imperial and highly revered throne of the Oba of Benin to any other traditional or religious authority under the guise of national unity or representational balance.

“While the Oba of Benin is currently categorized among the highest -ranking traditional rulers in Nigeria, it is absolutely unacceptable – indeed, an affront to justice and history – to diminish his stature through such unwarranted and biased constitutional manipulation.”

Going further, the group added: “Let it be known that more than 600 years before British colonial incursion, the Benin Kingdom stood as a formidable empire – an organized, expansive, and diplomatically sophisticated polity. The Oba of Benin was not merely a king, but an emperor with vast dominions, extending across present-day Edo, Delta, parts of Ondo, Lagos, and into present-day Benin Republic. Northwards, the influence of the Oba reached beyond Esanland and Afemai territories to the foothills of the Kukuruku Mountains.

“At that time, many of the kingdoms now elevated in public discourse were either non-existentor mere village clusters, without the sophistication or authority that the Benin monarchy wielded.”

While stating that the move is a political motivated assault said that it is very obvious that in arriving at the conclusion that only the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto should be permanent co-chairmen, ostensibly to represent the geopolitical north and south regions, historical, territorial, and cultural pedigree in determining leadership within the Council of Traditional Rulers, were not taken into account.

“This bill, therefore, appears to be a politically motivated assault on the delicate balance and mutual respect that currently define inter-traditional relations in Nigeria. It threatens to upend centuries of coexistence, fuel regional discontent, and reignite historical grievances.”

While demanding for immediate withdrawal of the proposed bill in its entirety, the group urged the National Assembly to tread cautiously and not allow political manoeuvringto destroy the dignity, balance, and integrity of Nigeria’s traditional institutions. The Benin people remain steadfast in defending their glorious heritage, and will continue to resist any act that seeks to erase or marginalizetheir history.

Recall that former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau South, Senator Simon Lalong propose the Bill seeks to name the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Ooni of Ife, as permanent Chairmen and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers.