By Effiong Nyong 15.9.2025
Let’s restore our dignity as a people, we can start by visiting the 1999 constitution, with attention to the section that deals with our traditional institutions.
What role does the constitution prescribe for the custodians of our culture? From independence in 1960 the leading to 1966, when the Nigerian constitution was suspended by the military, the house of chiefs which represented the traditional institution and by extension, the ethnic nationalities and culture of the people, had a strong say in the governance system in the country.
But the 1999 constitution which we now practice, has no clear or distinct roles for the institutions across the country, reducing the roles of traditional rulers to mere ceremonial or advisory depending on what the government wants at any of the levels of governance in the country.
Consequently, there has several egotistic clashes across the country. Even local government council chairmen are more powerful than traditional rulers in their domain. In Kano state there are two emirs, traditional rulers who were once revered have become tools in the hands of political appointees, no wonder the society is upside down.
The irony is the fact that the British that colonized us and remain modern and sophisticated, still maintain, and respect their traditional institutions, with clear roles. The United Kingdom and their traditional institutions have remained, while those of us that claim righteous cultural icons find it easy to destabilise and toss our rulers anyhow.
In Nigeria for instance General Sanni Abacha didn’t think twice to depose Sultan Ibrahim Dansuki, and during this civilian dispensation , Umar Ganduje wasted no time in removing Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over a minor political disagreement and install the son of Ado Bayero , and with the change of political guard in Kano, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was returned, and the people of Kano now contend with or pay obeisance to two Emirs.
In Cross River state where I come from the situation is not different, despite the disagreement in the Henshaw town council, where a certain individual was said not to belong to any of the ruling houses, former governor Ben Ayade found it politically correct and expedient to make the same man the paramount ruler of the Calabar South local government council area, the same council which houses the palace or throne of the Obong of calabar.
And as our modern political constitution prescribes , this recognized paramount ruler is more powerful than any other traditional ruler within the local government council area. While all them put together and subject to the orders of the local government council chairman. That is the law as contained in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The black man from Nigeria must be a wonder to the world. He remains the one man who disrespects himself, his tradition and culture but wants outsiders or strangers to accord him the honour and reverence which he cannot give himself. Recent developments from Calabar the Cross River state capital indicate that a retired federal high court judge, an Etubom and family head is being tossed back and forth by strangers in his fatherland, for the reasons of modernity and the shape of the Nigerian constitution.
Interesting also is the fact that everyone and everywhere is quiet, no one is saying anything because they all want to be politically correct, so they can remain in the good books of the powers that be. A flash back to the executive summary of the confab report of 2014 becomes necessary as we also journey back to the Amalgamation treaty of 1914, which recognized the traditional institution and its effectiveness in governance.
This military constitution of 1999 is due to be thrown overboard, as Nigerians desire a true people’s constitution. That guarantee proper representation, social justice, the rule of law, and above all respect for humankind. A new Nigeria is possible and that is the mission of the African Democratic Congress ADC.
Cross River State can become a model state, where things are done properly. We can reorder our preferences and priorities. We must be intentional, shun sycophancy and propaganda. I believe that the African Democratic Congress ADC will do things differently, and it begins with respect for our traditional institutions for therein lies our heritage.
Mr. Effiong Nyong is a chieftain of the Africa Democratic Congress in Cross River State.
Obong of Calabar...