By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
The Northern States of Nigeria, especially the North West geopolitical area is today a war zone with citizens mown down in cold blood in hundreds and villages sacked at will with residents daily kidnapped for ransom and many more sold into captivity and slavery. All are not unconnected with near absence of good governance. With each transition since return to democracy or civil rule, the situation gets worse especially in the last 17 years.
Sadly, the Northern Governors seem almost bereaved of ideas on how to deal with the deteriorating security that daily leaves dead bodies as decorating garlands of their ineptitudes around their necks.
Collectively, the Governors are fighting for more constitutional powers even from the Federal Government, despite pocketing the local government areas; the third tier of government that would make life livable for majority of Nigerian citizens at the grassroots.
Sadly, the Northern Governors are not just worse off over these, but they are today, topping the trophy stable of desecration and ridiculing of the once revered and influential traditional institution; the custodian of the time-cherished customs and values of the people.
Of course, the watering down of the strength of the traditional leadership in Nigeria predates democratic leaders, nay military dictatorships. It began with the colonialists. But it has never been this bad. Though the Emirs and Chiefs also have their share of the blame as some have become political pipers and dictated to by the payers.
Traditional authorities were legendary for ensuring economic and security wellbeing of their subjects and domains in the years past. They played and effectively so, legislative, judicial, executive powers diligently. They fast tracked politico, socio-economic development of the nation through their emirates and chiefdoms. The subjugation of the traditional institution has no doubt added to the dimension of insecurity and underdevelopment in Northern Nigeria.
The macabre dance and absurdity in Kano with the politicisation of the influential and revered Kano Emirate by the political class is pathetic. But the attempt by the Sokoto State government to water down the sultanate a la Frederick Lugard 1903 act calls for great concern as the outcome could be detrimental and worsen an already security worsened situation.
The state government proposed a bill to reduce the power and influence of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar the III, who doubles as the spiritual leader of Nigerias Muslim community. The Sultan, who should be widely respected across the country and beyond, should play a crucial role in maintaining religious harmony and resolving disputes within the Muslim community in Nigeria and beyond. The proposed bill, if and when passed, would significantly undermine his ability to fulfill these great roles.
The Sokoto State House of Assembly successfully completed the first and second readings of the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill. The amendment bill, when passed, will strip the Sultan of powers to appoint the kingmakers, district heads without the state government approval.
The ulterior motive of Sokoto state government insiders asserted was to depose the Sultan after stripping him of his powers in fulfillment of their campaign slogan; Sabon gwamna, sabon sarki
It took no less a figure than the Vice President, Kashim Shettima to reprimand the state government in Katsina at the North West Security Summit.
In his words: In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognise and appreciate all our royal fathers.. And to the Deputy Governor of Sokoto, I have a simple message for you. Yes, the Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto. But he is much more than that. He represents an idea. He is an Institution that all of us in this country need to jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation end of quote.
Shortly after that gathering, Katsina State Government also queried the Emirate disguising as directing at the District Heads for their inability to participate in Eid-el-Kabir Durbah. That has met grieving public outcry and interpreted as a move to get at the Emir.
Though the Katsina State Government was forced to issue a statement denying the alleged plan to get at the Emir, it calls to question the no love lost between the Government Houses, the Emirates and their various occupants.
As the Governors oblivious of their sole constitutional responsibilities of protection of lives and property, desperate for more power, destroy the local government areas and now denigrate and render impotent the traditional institution with dereliction of duties on the parts of the traditional rulers, the result is the insecurity that ravages the region today and worsens daily with attendant national food insecurity among several woes.
The earlier the Governors retrace their steps the better. Even the Federal Government needs to constitutionally intervene to rollback this menace as its state actors also bear the brunt of these undemocratic and uncivilised, un-leadership acts of the Governors.
But even as we advocate for the strengthening of the Local Governments and the traditional institutions, the occupants of those stools of their forbearances in the emirates and chiefdoms are not without their blames. As an old Hausa axiom goes; in bera na da sata, dadawa ma na da wari.
To say the time revered traditional institutions in Northern Nigeria; especially the Emirates are under serious threats or attacks is stating the obvious.
Like stated in part one of this viewpoint, in time past traditional authorities were legendary for ensuring economic and security wellbeing of their subjects in their domains. They played and effectively so, Legislative, judicial and executive powers diligently. They fast tracked politico and socio-economic development in their domains.
The various local Government reforms over the years further weakened the influence of the traditional authorities, but not altogether. Till date certain percentage of Local Government funds still go to them.
But of recent, one could hardly discern what these traditional institutions especially in Northern Nigeria utilise such funds for in the interest of their subjects. Most of these royal fathers live ostentatious lifestyles just like elected and appointed politicians, in the middle of penury among the majority of their subjects. In the days of yore, education in Emirates, agriculture, health, skill acquisition and security received the best of attention utilising such resources. From the Sultanate which is number one in hierarchy to the Kanem Empire of Borno at number two, to Gwandu at number three and Kano at number four down the line, we don’t encourage the political dethronement and politicisation of the Emirates. But the Emirs must also eschew the dereliction of duty and political partisanship that have reduced them to play toys in the hands of the political class despite the constitutional enabler they possess.
Agreed the State Governors have the constitutional powers make laws to administer these emirates and chiefdoms through the state Houses of Assemblies. But they must do so with decorum to preserve the prestige and time revered heritage of the people.
Sadly and of recent, alleged involvement or indictment of some traditional rulers in banditry, kidnapping for ransom and other irate activities of non-state actors calls for concern. The inability or dereliction of duty by the Emirs to ascertain, identify and discipline those found wanting among their subjects or hand them over to security agents leaves much to be desired.
The federal government must also avoid dabbling into such issues head-on. The state government have the constitutional backing to “discipline” any traditional leader who is found wanting. If the Emirs advance and protect the interests of their subjects in all ramifications while ensuring they remain apolitical, no Governor, however irate and power drunk will dare any of the Emirs without incurring the wrath of the people. This no politician will want to risk.
As we battle insecurity, worsening conditions of living for the populace, dwindling or near absence of good governance, the traditional institution and its leadership, especially Emirs in Northern Nigeria must retrace their steps, live above board and avoid dereliction of duty that today has turn most of them to institution of scorn and toys in the hands of politicians and their subjects.
Both the political class and the traditional institutions should know that protection of lives and property, the wellbeing of the electorates and their subjects, remain paramount and should be on top list of their priorities always. Diverting resources to flamboyant lifestyles of exotic structures, posh houses and multiple life partners will not augur well for anyone. After all and said, no one is safe, until everyone is safe. Now is the time to utilise your positions; political and traditional in the interest of the majority for the progress, safety, development and growth of the society.
Anything short of these, is but a catalyst for anarchy, which we can ill afford with the myriads of challenges we currently face as a nation and people, especially in northern Nigeria.
Abdull-Azeez is the General Manager Liberty Television and FM Radios, Kaduna Regional Office and can be reached via azeeznews@mail.com
