Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly opposed a bill currently before the Nigerian Senate that seeks to grant exclusive co-chairmanship of the National Council of Traditional Rulers to the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Enugu, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, described the bill as unfair, ethnically biased, and a threat to national unity.
The controversial bill, which has reportedly passed its second reading in the Senate, proposes the permanent elevation of the Ooni and the Sultan as the only co-chairs of the council, a move Ohanaeze says marginalizes traditional rulers from other ethnic groups and geopolitical zones.
“We are astounded by the rationale behind such an asymmetrical and divisive legislative proposal,” Chukwu stated. “The bill disregards the principles of fairness, equity, justice, and the federal character as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.”
He further criticised the Senate, accusing it of failing in its responsibility as a custodian of democratic values and national unity.
“This bill is not only inequitable and discriminatory but also ethnocentric, distasteful, and deeply objectionable,” Chukwu stated. “It lacks the ethical framework, objective standards, and inclusive criteria necessary for fostering social justice in a diverse and pluralistic society like Nigeria.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for the immediate withdrawal of the bill and urged lawmakers to ensure future proposals reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity and promote inclusive governance.
“Only through sensitivity to ethnic balance, cultural identity, and equitable representation can such a council genuinely foster national unity, peaceful coexistence, and social stability,” the statement concluded.