₦airaland Forum

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned a bill in the Nigerian Senate that seeks to elevate 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 described the bill as unjust, warning that it sidelines apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical zones across the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, expressed deep concern over what he termed an asymmetric bill by the Senate, emphasising that it disregards the principles of fairness, equity, and federal character enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

Chukwu said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is astounded by the rationale behind the bill, which threatens the spirit of inclusiveness and equality in the nation’s traditional leadership structure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill has already passed its second reading in the Senate, raising tensions among various ethnic and regional groups.

He said, “The Senate in this vein has failed in its capacity as the highest legislative carrier and custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate.

“This bill is not only inequitable, discriminatory and ethnocentric, it is equally distasteful, reprehensible and objectionable.

“It lacks all the ethical considerations, objective metrics and unbiased categories for national unity and social justice in a pluralist nation-state like Nigeria.

"Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for the urgent withdrawal of the bill and the need to review it in consideration for ethnic differences, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, inclusive governance and equitable representation.”

“It is only by so doing shall the bill foster national unity, peaceful co-existence and social stability,” Chukwu added.

muhammaduyusufu:
Why are Ohaeneze Ndigbo releasing statement when they always claim Igbos font have kings?

Anywhere you see Emir in the North, it originated from the Sokoto Caliphate.

Anywhere you see Irukere (fly whisk), Abere and Ada in the South, it originated from Ife. Even the Obi of Onitsha dey carry Abere upandan.

zeuss:
Ife is subordinate to Benin kingdom by many centuries infact benin birthed the Yoruba monarch system. The title Oba is Benin copyright like Emir is caliphate copyright. The caliphate and Emirship is a foreign 19th century contraption

ednut1:
Alaafin is more powerful than ooni . Awolowo was the one who elevated ooni. They should add obi of onitsha to the list

zeuss:
Ife is subordinate to Benin kingdom by many centuries infact benin birthed the Yoruba monarch system. The title Oba is Benin copyright like Emir is caliphate copyright. The caliphate and Emirship is a foreign 19th century contraption

muhammaduyusufu:
Oba is a Yoruba word. YES

Can you tell us the meaning of Oba in Benin language..lol.

Oranmiyan, an Ife Prince, established the obaship system in Benin.

zeuss:
Ife is subordinate to Benin kingdom by many centuries infact benin birthed the Yoruba monarch system. The title Oba is Benin copyright like Emir is caliphate copyright. The caliphate and Emirship is a foreign 19th century contraption

FxMasterz:
Lol.

Even your Oba is Ọmọ oba. Not Oba. Ọmọ ọba means prince in Yoruba land. And that's consistent with Yoruba history that says the oba of Benin used to be an Ife prince.

How long is Benin history? What is the population of the Benins? Do you know how far dated the Yoruba history is? And do you know how vast an empire the To Empire used to be from Oyo to Ghana? Do you now how populous the Yoruba race is and the vasteless of the speakers of the language globally? How does Benin compare.

Please get your facts right and don't attempt to rewrite history. The Benin king is an Ife prince.

Kindledlight:
Are you high or something
The same obas of Benin head dey my backyard for village(ife) where them bury them.

zeuss:
yeah right......Oduduwa like Oba is not a Yoruba word......go figure