RELEVANCE OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The age-long traditional institution is one that has not changed with time. This institution has provided a system of administration from which law and order came and provided a stable system of governance. It is important to point out that the belief among most Western scholars was that pre-colonial African societies had no system of administration: that is, no law, no order, no government, and no civilization. This belief has long been seen as not only very erroneous but grossly subjective (Fatile and Adejuwon, 2010). It has been known that traditional African societies, indeed, had well organized and well established systems of ministration where public order was provided and maintained; where laws were made and  implemented; were inter communal and intertribal conflicts were settled. This shows that traditional institutions have been a significant feature of the people and commanded a large degree of loyalty and respect among them. The general belief is that traditional rulers have no place in a democratic dispensation whereby only the elected are permitted to rule. By their mode of ascension to power legitimacy, exercised by traditional rulers is not generally acceptable (Dore, 2011).

The above argument poses two fundamental questions. First of all, in a developing country like Nigeria where traditional institutions in some parts of the country still exercise much influence over their subjects, can their opinion be totally ignored? This question is more potent when even the elected representatives at all levels of government wide on their influence during election periods (Akinola, 2009), when actually traditional rulers are supposed to be apolitical. The second question has to do with the fundamental rights of occupants of traditional positions. As citizens in their own rights, do they have a voice? Voice in the sense of contributing to the democratic process without being accused of partisanship, which will negate the general belief that they are fathers to all! 

Fatile (2010) posits that most occupiers of traditional stools across the country are now modern, more educated and career persons in their chosen field before ascending to the stool of their fore fathers. The immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okenade Sijuade, was a successful international businessman. Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos was a lawyer and an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar retired from the Nigerian Army on the rank of Brigadier General in 2006 and was even the Defence Attache to Pakistan, before his coronation as the Sultan. The Gbong Gwon of Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, was a comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service. The traditional ruler of Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obi Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, is a professor of Nutrition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, from whatever way examined traditional rulers they remain relevant. 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The continuous degrading of the powers of traditional rulers is very disgusting and disheartening in the contemporary Nigerian society. It is in line with this that this study is poised in studying the relevance of traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria with special attention on Ganye traditional council.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess the relevance of traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria with precise reference to Ganye traditional council.

Other specific objectives of the study are:

To identify the implications of traditional rulers participation in politics in Ganye traditional council. 

To examine the relationship between traditional institutions and good governance in Ganye traditional council.

To access the roles of traditional rulers in conflict management in Ganye traditional council.

1.4 Research Questions/Hypothesis

The following questions guide the study:

What is the relationship between traditional institutions and good governance in Ganye traditional council?

What are the implications of traditional rulers participation in politics in Ganye traditional council? 

How can traditional rulers effectively manage conflict in Ganye traditional council?

1.5 Significance of the Study.

This research work successfully carried out is of immense value to traditional rulers as it helps them towards adopting better strategies in their political game. This research also helps political scientists in formulating ideas that will guide prospective politicians on how to cooperate with traditional rulers in there achieving their political games. Prospective politicians can use this work as a guide in the sense that it help to eliminate ethnicity and promote democracy in governance. This research work can serve imperatively as an academic resource for those who may conduct researches on this area or related topic.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study   

The scope of this research project is confined to Ganye traditional council only. The sample and sub-sample of the research population is due to financial difficulty, time and short-term services of those handling logistics to overcome difficult village terrains. All these foreseen constraints form the project limitations.