WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR
The Anambra state government recently warned those parading themselves as traditional rulers without government certification to seize forthwith or risk going to jail.

Governor Willie Obiano gave the warning at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia. The governments’ warning came following the crisis and subversion of customs and traditions in some communities in the state by some people who want to foist themselves as traditional rulers without due process and approval.
No doubt, traditional institution is sacred and ought not to be desecrated. Traditional rulers occupy important positions. Their positions are noble and usually sanctioned by the traditions, history and cultures of their people, who hold them in very high esteem and reverence.
With the favourable disposition of Governor Willie Obiano to the traditional institution in the state, the reputation and stake of traditional rulers have been raised. Traditional institution is now regarded as the fourth tier of government in the state. In most communities now, those aspiring to be traditional rulers are expected by their people to obtain certain educational qualifications, personal achievements, accomplishments to his people and an extent of wealth.
Beyond generating healthy competition among communities, their emphasis is also meant to throw up able and capable rulers equipped with the intelligence and resources needed to attract development to their communities. Their charging status notwithstanding, the relevance of traditional rulers as cultural ambassadors and advisers on cultural matters, will continue to hold sway. Added to these is their capability in settling disputes.
Regrettably, traditional institution has been desecrated and relegated to the background in Igboland. Some traditional rulers have been objects of ridicule and political malfeasance. It is disturbing that in some communities in Igboland, some communities have been in crisis over who becomes the traditional ruler.
In many communities, some people are parading themselves as traditional rulers without being recognized by government, while some traditional rulers, on the other hand, have derailed in the customs, traditions and norms of the land.
Another worrisome aspect of desecration in Igboland is the Eze Ndigbo phenomenon in different parts of the country. It is shocking that such people arrogate powers to themselves which seem to rub shoulders with bona fide traditional rulers in communities outside their states.
It is funny that such Eze Ndigbo in the Diaspora often come home to challenge their recognized traditional rulers and often connive with clandestine agents of mischief and retrogression to unseat their traditional rulers. This is an aberration.
However, the fact remains that the conduct of some traditional rulers over the years, have also undermined their status and position. In spite of this, there is no gainsaying the fact that traditional rulers have critical roles to play in sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.
To avoid further desecration of traditional institution, there is the need to ensure that anybody seeking to be a traditional ruler must be educated, intelligent, enlightened, civilized, dynamic, current, lively and open to new ideas and suggestions. He must not be too rigid, conservative, myopic and parochial.
For the sanctity of the traditional institution to be protected, the traditional ruler must be the symbol of the people’s past, custodian of their history, upholder and preserver of their culture and customs, epitome of cultural norms and values of the society such as truth, honesty, discipline, courage, among others.
Above all, we must ensure that he traditional institution is preserved, promoted and strengthened through official constitutional recognitions and acknowledgements. If the Britain, who colonized Nigeria and introduced liberal democracy, still preserves their traditional institutions, then we have no reason to throw ours to the dustbins of modern politics and administration. It must be said, and rightly too, that the traditional institution is part of the working tools that could make democracy and development sustainable in contemporary Nigeria.
For development to be human-centered, consciously driven towards success, sustainable and functional, it must be anchored on the intrinsic values inherent in the culture and traditions of the people over which the traditional rulers preside.
Traditional rulers remain essential and central to development in Nigeria with or without specifically created constitutional roles.

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