Nigeria has three different and often
confusing systems of government. One is Democracy brought into Nigeria by the
British. The democratic form of government is anchored by the federal
government, state governments, and local governments, i.e. president, governors,
and local government chairmen.
The second system of parallel
government is the native laws that were in place before the British came in and
messed everything up. This second parallel of government is anchored by Emirs,
Igwes/Obis, Obas, etc., and town unions chairmen/women.
The third system of parallel government
is a theocracy. This system is operated by Iman’s, sheiks, pastors, bishops, etc.
This system is most prevalent in Sharia states of Nigeria but the influence
of bishops in SE Nigeria, for example, is profound.
Many Nigeria politicians have had
occasions to fight with some of the leaders of the parallel systems for example
there is the case of Premier Awolowo with some Obas and the current fight
between the governor of Kano State, Ganduje and Emir Sanusi. There are many
local fights between Town Union presidents and the local government chairmen.
Some of the causes of the conflict are: the inherent conflict between native tradition which has existed for centuries, and
the British traditions; a conflict between democratic principles dealing with
elections and life tenure of emirs, Igwe/obis, obas. Others include conflict
between newly introduced Islam/Christian versus traditional religious beliefs
of the millenniums of years in Africa.
To make matters worse the political
leaders (the adherents of democracy) appoint the traditional leaders. And
according to accepted phraseology: if you can hire; then you can fire comes to
play. Governor Ganduje thinks that he can fire Emir Sanusi. The British allowed
this parallel system to exist because they found that they could use the
traditional rulers to quieten the natives while the traditional rulers were in
no position to challenge their authority. But things have changed since the
British left. Traditional rulers are now as educated, as urbane, as
knowledgeable as the president, the governors, and the local government
chairmen. Sanusi, a world-renowned economist and former governor of the Central
Bank, is as savvy (even more so) than Gaduje. The Igwe of Awka is a former Vice-Chancellor of a university and is as knowledgeable as the governor of Anambra
state.
If the native ruler has a strong
character is as popular as the governor, and has a following; political
rivalry is bound to erupt. If there are differences of opinion on how the
community should develop, the rivalry intensifies and is worsened when the
territorial boundaries are equal as in Kano where the emir and governor share
almost the same geographical authority.
The decision facing Nigeria is this:
Which system to retain and which to abolish for the three systems should not be
tolerated. Efforts to integrate the three has been made and it has not worked.
The British idea was merely to use the traditional rulers as surrogates. They
even created traditional rulers where there was none before as in parts of the
republics in Igbo land. Only Onitsha and Midwest Igbo had strong traditional
rulers in the early parts of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Left to me I will abolish the
democratic practices of state governors and local government chairmen and
theocracy and let the emirs, Igwe/obis and Obas reign. These leaders are
integrated with the communities and understand everyday folks. Governors are
far removed from the people and are exactly like the British governors owing
allegiance to foreign entities like political parties. The traditional ruler’s
allegiance is only to their community. Town Union leaders are elected by the
town elders who know them intimately.
The Federal Government would be the
amalgam of the emirs, Igwe/obis and obas, something like Federal House of
Chiefs who would elect one of themselves as Igwe of the federation with very
limited powers.
This is my view. Your welcome.
Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba
Boston, Massachusetts
March 13, 2020
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