₦airaland Forum

HAUSA NATION REJECTS BILL TO ELEVATE ONLY FULANI & YORUBA TRADITIONAL RULERS


PRESS STATEMENT

Hausa People Reject Senate Bill Elevating Only Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife as Co-Chairmen of National Traditional Rulers Council

Issued by:
Concerned Hausa Stakeholders
Kaduna, Nigeria
Date: July 26, 2025

The Hausa people, joined by concerned voices from across Nigeria, firmly reject the recent bill passed for second reading by the Nigerian Senate which seeks to establish a National Council of Traditional Rulers naming only the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife as permanent co-chairmen.

This bill is ethnically biased, historically misleading, and constitutionally indefensible. Nigeria is not a two-ethnic federation of Fulani and Yoruba. It is a multi-ethnic republic where equal representation, historical truth, and federal character must be respected.

 1. The Sultan of Sokoto Is a Religious Leader Not a Traditional Ruler in the Cultural Sense

The Sultan of Sokoto is officially recognized as the “Sarkin Musulmi” Leader of Muslims not as a traditional king in the ethnic or cultural sense. His authority centers around:

Declaring moon sightings for Ramadan and Eid;

Representing Islamic religious interests nationally;

Acting as patron of Miyetti Allah, a Fulani cultural organization.

His legitimacy is thus religious and Fulani-specific, not cultural or ethnic. He does not represent the Hausa people, nor the broader traditional institutions of northern Nigeria. The Sultan himself openly declared:

 “I am Fulani through and through. If there is life after death, I would choose to return as Fulani.”

That statement is a proud affirmation of Fulani identity not Hausa, not Kanuri, and certainly not neutral. Therefore, elevating the Sultan to permanent national traditional leadership is both misleading and exclusionary.

If religious authority is the basis for this elevation, then Christian leaders, such as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), should be equally considered, since both Christians and Muslims exist across North and South Nigeria.

 2. If This Bill Is Truly About Traditional Leadership, Where Are the Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, and Others?

If the bill is about traditional rulership, then it is unacceptable to exclude other major and historically grounded ethnic civilizations:

The Hausa, with ancient city-states like Daura, Kano, Zaria, Katsina, and a royal tradition predating the Sokoto Caliphate;

The Igbo, with time-honored institutions like the Obi of Onitsha, Eze Nri, and many others;

The Kanuri, with the Shehu of Borno, one of West Africa’s oldest dynasties.

To recognize only the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife is a deliberate marginalization of other Nigerian civilizations. It also ignores the fact that Daura, not Sokoto, is the traditional cradle of Hausa kingship. Sokoto is the capital of the Fulani empire, not an indigenous Hausa kingdom.

   3. This Bill Threatens National Unity and Institutionalizes Ethnic Favoritism

This bill promotes ethnic hierarchy, not unity. By elevating only two monarchs from two ethnic groups Fulani and Yoruba it risks entrenching resentment, division, and institutionalized injustice.

No single monarch, no matter how respected, can represent entire regions or religions. The Ooni of Ife cannot speak for the Igbo, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ibibio, or others in the South. The Sultan cannot speak for the Hausa, Kanuri, or Tiv in the North.

This is not just about titles. It is about historical truth, ethnic dignity, and equal citizenship in the Nigerian project.

 OUR DEMANDS

We hereby call for the complete withdrawal or fundamental redrafting of this bill, guided by the following:

1. If the bill is religious in nature, then equal leadership must be given to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim leaders, reflecting Nigeria’s religious diversity.

2. If the bill is traditional in nature, then it must reflect ethnic equity — including the Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, Ijaw, Tiv, Urhobo, Ibibio, and all other indigenous nations.

3. Any national traditional leadership must be based on historical legitimacy, federal character, and inclusive dialogue, not political favoritism.

We will not accept any structure that seeks to overwrite or erase the historical presence, sovereignty, and dignity of the Hausa nation, nor will we condone the exclusion of other ethnic nationalities.

 Signed:
Concerned Hausa Stakeholders
Kaduna, Nigeria

#hausaactivist
#HausaRejectsTheBill
#DauraNotSokoto
#SarkinMusulmiIsReligiousNotTraditional
#TraditionalJusticeNow
#NigeriaBelongsToAll
#EqualRecognitionNow
#NoToEthnicSupremacy

This bill is divisive. If this bill should scale through that means government will give legitimacy to what Fulanis warlords are doing in Northern down to Middle belt of Nigeria. The ethnic cleansing and Jihad will be increase... God have mercy on us.

Legislative houses of serious countries work on reforms and legislation that will enhance economic prosperity, political stability and smooth social interaction. Nigeria National Assembly is busy wasting time and resources throwing bills on childish issues.

We need a PARADIGM SHIFT urgently.

If that is the case, the Ooni of Ife should be the permanent chairman.. he is the real traditional ruler between the duo.
The Fulanis through their jihad conquest did Hausas dirty.. they schemed Hausas out from anything power in the North down to traditional titles.

This is why every well-meaning Nigerian must condemn the proposed bill by some Igbo lawmakers to grant settlers indigeneship status. That is a nuclear disaster waiting to happen.
May Nigeria never experience another civil war over insensitivity of some gree.dy minority to take what belongs to others for themselves.

The mistake that led to Rwanda genocide and other notable conflicts around the world must not be allowed in Nigeria.. boundaries must be respected with each and every tribe having mutual respect for one another.

I agree with the letter. It is unacceptable.

This bill is not complete without the Oba of Benin. The Benin kingdom is one of the oldest documented histories in Africa and the world. How these divisive political actors talk tradition without mentioning the Oba beats my imagination. The Oba's influence extends to part of the east and most of the South South and South West.

..See what Akpabio..& his goons of tilumbu senators are doing to Nigeria..

..i am ompressed by such audacity & crass subjugation of traditional & cultzral ethni groups of Nigeria by the tilumbu maladministration..

..they are in Lagos changing names pf other ethnic group..shouting go back to your villages..while they use snatched mandate to elevate the ooni & sultanate as the only traditional titles in Nigeria inside one Nigeria..

..wonders hall truly never end..

flokii:
If that is the case, the Ooni of Ife should be the permanent chairman.. he is the real traditional ruler between the duo.
The Fulanis through their jihad conquest did Hausas dirty.. they schemed Hausas out from anything power in the North down to traditional titles.

This is why every well-meaning Nigerian must condemn the proposed bill by some Igbo lawmakers to grant settlers indigeneship status. That is a nuclear disaster waiting to happen.
May Nigeria never experience another civil war over insensitivity of some gree.dy minority to take what belongs to others for themselves.

The mistake that led to Rwanda genocide and other notable conflicts around the world must not be allowed in Nigeria.. boundaries must be respected with each and every tribe having mutual respect for one another.

You again.

it seems to grab the message of the Hausa people is difficult due to the ethnic bigotry & trib;;:alis""m inherent in some group of people.

Oh, the ooni of ife should be made chairman, cos it does not bother you that the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria is far more bigger than thenooni of ife

Eeveryday you will be crying on Nairaland, " go back to your village", change the names of other ethnic streets into yoribas while you are gearing towards making an ooni the chairman of the traditional titles of Nigeria.

It does not bother you now because you are Yoruba by nature. You can make him the Chairman of oduduwa republic, when you charge your tinubu senators to pass the laws for oduduwa republic.

You.cannot be telling people to go back to their villages & at the same time wishing that the Yoruba ooni be the chairman of those you don't want inside one Nigeria.

At this point, is everything really ok with Tinubu supporters ?