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Traditional rulers and local government in Nigeria: a pathway to resolving the challenge

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Abstract

This paper examines the problem of integrating traditional rulers into the contemporary local government system in Nigeria with a view of resolving the problems arising from the tradition/modernity nexus in the present scheme. Two basic questions guided this work. The first relates to the relevance of indigenous traditional institutions to the challenges of contemporary democratic processes. The second relates to whether traditional modes of thought, behaviour and institutions constitute resources or impediments to the projects of modernisation and development. This paper concludes that the goal of modernisation is to generate rapid increase in social wealth and its driving force is economic development; and where traditional institutions are able to contribute positively to this goal, their input should not be jettisoned.
RESEARCH & EVALUATION
CJLG November 2013
128
Traditional Rulers and Local Government in Nigeria:
a Pathway to Resolving the Challenge
Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance
Issue 13/14: November 2013
http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/ojs/index.php/cjlg
Daniel Adetoritse Tonwe
Department of Political Science & Public Administration,
University of Benin, Nigeria
Email: datonwe@yahoo.com
Osa Osemwota
Institute of Public Administration & Extension Services,
University of Benin, Nigeria.
Email: osaosemwota@yahoo.com
Abtract
This paper examines the problem of integrating traditional rulers into the contemporary local
government system in Nigeria with a view of resolving the problems arising from the
tradition/modernity nexus in the present scheme. Two basic questions guided this work. The first
relates to the relevance of indigenous traditional institutions to the challenges of contemporary
democratic processes. The second relates to whether traditional modes of thought, behaviour and
institutions constitute resources or impediments to the projects of modernisation and development.
This paper concludes that the goal of modernisation is to generate rapid increase in social wealth and
its driving force is economic development; and where traditional institutions are able to contribute
positively to this goal, their input should not be jettisoned.
Key words: traditional authority systems, traditional rulers (Emirs, Obas), cultural revivalism,
antimodern.
Introduction
For centuries before the advent of British rule, governance in different parts of present-day Nigeria
was synonymous with traditional institutions and their rulers. Local administration generally centered
on the traditional ruler who was considered the repository of religious, legislative, executive and
judicial functions, with a few exceptions (e.g.: in the south-east amongst Ibo communities) (Afigbo
1972). In effect, the traditional ruler formed the nucleus of governance. One striking fact is that the
geographical spheres of authority of these traditional rulers were essentially localised and no
traditional ruler ever had jurisdiction over the entire geographical area of modern Nigeria. Partly on
account of this historical background, the tendency has been to view and analyse the developments
taking place in traditional institutions in the country more in relation to local government as opposed
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to the country’s governmental system at large. The role of traditional rulers in local government
administration has been changing over the years. From a position where they were chief executives
of their localities, they now serve as advisers in the contemporary local government system. This has
created a problem in the relationship between traditional rulers and elected local government actors.
The focus of this paper is to examine the problem of integrating traditional rulers into the
contemporary local government system in Nigeria and discern a pathway to resolving the challenge.
This paper is based on secondary data and relied on national and international literature, and review of
relevant legislation and constitutional provisions. The paper is structured into six sections. The first
section introduces the subject of traditional authorities. The second examines various perspectives on
the relevance of indigenous African traditional institutions in the context of the challenges of
contemporary democratic process. The third section traces the contours of the changing role of
traditional rulers in local government in Nigeria. The fourth section examines the emergent local
government system in Nigeria and the problems of harmonious co-existence between traditional
authorities and elected local government actors. The final sections explore options for resolving the
tradition/modernity nexus in Nigeria are addresses in the fifth section, and draw conclusions from the
analysis.
Laying out the turf
The nexus between the traditional and modern has been a central theme of postcolonial African
philosophy. African philosophers have examined this theme from many angles, yet two questions
have become the focus of ongoing debate. The first relates to the relevance of indigenous African
traditional institutions to the challenges of contemporary democratic process. The question relates to
whether traditional modes of thought, behaviour, and institutions constitute resources or impediments
to development and modernisation in Africa (Ciaffa 2008).
The discussion of such questions reveals a conflict between two broad perspectives. The first
perspective relates to cultural revivalism. This perspective assumes a reverential attitude toward
African cultural heritage. In Gyekye’s view, the key to addressing contemporary problems effectively
lies in reclaiming and revitalizing indigenous traditions that have been degraded and suppressed in the
wake of colonialism (Gyekye 1997:233). He argued that colonialism violently disrupted African
cultural traditions and imposed, with varying degrees of success, European forms of thought and
social organisation on colonised peoples. Having achieved political independence, postcolonial
Africans must now pursue a more decisive liberation, a decolonisation of African minds and societies.
Revivalists are often skeptical of calls for development and modernisation, viewing them as veiled
calls for the continued imposition of European cultural norms, but it is important to realize that they
do not typically view their own project as anti-modern. For revivalists, the key point is that genuine
modernisation in Africa can only be realised through the revitalisation of African cultural norms.
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The second perspective is predicated on the assumption that the revivalist project is misguided and ill-
suited to the challenges of contemporary Africa. Proponents of this school of thought argue that
cultural revivalism diverts attention from pressing political issues, such as authoritarian oppression,
technological backwardness and class exploitation (Eze 1997). The most extreme form of this view,
suggests that Africans must make a clean break with the pre-modern past in order to address the most
urgent demands of the present (Hountondji, 1996:48). Modernisation, for them, requires a orientation
commensurate with the problems of the present, and not an attempt to resurrect ideas from societies of
the distant past.
Basically, modernisation is a sign of progress and an ideal to be pursued. In examining the debate
between cultural revivalism and its critics, the key question is: do indigenous traditions and traditional
institutions enhance or impede the processes of scientific and political modernisation? It is from this
context that this paper examines the role of traditional authorities in the contemporary local
government system in Nigeria.
Traditional authority systems and traditional rulers in Nigeria
It is difficult to provide a universally accepted definition of a traditional system of authority in Nigeria
because of the diversity in the political and administrative components of traditional systems in
different parts of the country. This difficulty notwithstanding, traditional systems of authority may be
defined as the indigenous polity which existed before the advent of the colonialists (Adewumi &
Egwurube 1985:20).
The responsibility for giving appropriate definition as to who is a traditional ruler is primarily that of
the State Governments. There are no fundamental variations in the definitions contained in the
Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of the various State Governments (Onoja 2007; Emordi & Osiki
2008). Based on the review of various of State laws, Ola and Tonwe (2009:174) argue that a
'traditional ruler' may be defined as ‘the traditional head of an ethnic group or clan who is the holder
of the highest primary executive authority in an indigenous polity, or who has been appointed to the
positioning accordance with the customs and tradition of the area concerned by instrument or order
of the state government, and whose title is recognised as a traditional ruler title by the Government of
the State’.
Traditional rulers and local government in Nigeria: changing roles
The role of traditional rulers in relation to local government has been changing over the years. In
tracing the contours of the role of traditional rulers in local government in Nigeria, three distinct
geographical regions are discernible, the north, the south-west and the south-east.
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In the pre-colonial era, a close examination of the established traditional institutions and their rulers
reveals that in the task of governance, the traditional rulers had to shape appropriate policies, order
priorities and generate revenue to meet the needs of their communities in the exercise of these
functions. In the North, the Emir could be referred to as a strong executive participator in local
administration with few restraints on his executive powers. In the South-West, beside the Oba (or
king), there were other power blocks or centers such as the body of king makers, the town council and
powerful secret societies whose input in shaping the local administration acted as checks on the Oba's
power, so the Oba can be regarded as a weak executive participator in local administration
(Oguntomisin 1996). In the South-East, the indigenous political system reveals a great deal of
popular participation and was highly decentralised and fragmented with authority being exercised at
different levels, from the household level to the village level with an absence of centralised executive
authority. In all, the traditional ruler was an embodiment of local administration (Ola & Tonwe 2009).
With the advent of colonialism, the British colonial administrators recognised the strategic and
influential position occupied by traditional rulers in the country. The colonial administrators had a
number of problems, including limited British personnel, and limited finance to run the country, as
British colonial policy was to generate cost of running colonies and managing the volatile law and
order situations from the colonies themselves. Largely for these reasons, the colonialists avoided
attempting any drastic reforms of the indigenous local administration (Adesoji 2010). Instead, the
British colonial administration took steps to put in place a system of indirect rule, as a convenient
strategy to govern the people through their traditional institutions and rulers while ensuring close
guidance by British Administrators. In this way, the allegiance of the people was secured via their
traditional rulers (Ola 1983:24). In effect, there was a clear attempt by the colonial government to
consolidate the role of traditional rulers as chief executives of their localities, and this was extended to
areas where traditional rulers had not hitherto held this power.
One of the features of indirect rule and native authority system was that nationalists were not
encouraged to serve in the local councils. The traditional rulers were in firm control of their local
councils and they tended to be despotic and authoritarian in performing their functions which were
essentially maintenance of law and order, and enforcement of tax policies of the British colonial
government. By mid-1940s however, political parties in the country had begun to assert themselves.
Nationalists were forceful in demanding adequate representation in government affairs, while at the
same time pressing for self-rule. They contended that the existing Native Authority System was
incompatible with modern secular and democratic tenets of local government. About this time too, the
British government was re-appraising its strategy of governance at the local level with the aim of
evolving a system of democratic and efficient local government. An official report, presented to the
British Parliament in July 1949, stated that the objective of the new system was the encouragement of
local political interest and building of efficient and democratic local government as a cardinal feature
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of the British policy in Africa (Uchendu 1965). It was recognised that political progress of the
territories was dependent on the development of responsible local government, that without sound
local government a democratic political system at the center was not possible, and that if social
services were to be expanded they must be operated by an efficient organ of local government directly
representative of the people (Orewa & Adewumi 1983).
The South-East of the country presented the most fertile ground to implement the British
Government's new policy as the traditional societal setting was highly atomised, and there were few
despotic or authoritarian traditional rulers. The Eastern Region took the historic step of abolishing the
Native Authority System and replacing it with the Local Government Ordinance, 1950. The
Ordinance provided for largely elected councils, with non-elected members not expected to exceed
25%. The Chairmen of the councils were to be elected from amongst the elected councilors (Orewa
and Adewumi 1983).
In the Western Region, the Western Region Local Government Law 1952 was promulgated to replace
the old Native Authority System. The law provided for local councils to consist of both elected and
traditional members, with traditional membership not exceeding a quarter of its total membership.
The law further provides that, recognised chiefs (i.e.: traditional rulers) could be appointed president
of the councils, but did not assign them any specific role, and as such they were ceremonial
presidents. To further ensure that traditional rulers were excluded from active participation in local
government, the Local Government Law was amended so that no traditional ruler appointed as
president of the council could also be appointed chairman of the council (Atanda 1970).
In the Northern Region, the old Native Authority Ordinance was replaced by the Native Authority
Law 1954. The law provided for a number of operational frameworks including Chief-in-Council,
Chief-and-Council and Federated Native Authorities. In the Chief-in-Council arrangement, the Emir
had the power to veto council decisions, provided that he informed the governor whenever he did so.
In the Chief-and-Council arrangement, the law provided that the Emir could not act contrary to the
decision of the Council. However, because in the Northern Region, Islam has been established so long
and so firmly that its practice has become inter-twined with those of traditional political authority a
type of Theocracy; it was difficult to discern any difference in power of the Emirs between the Chief-
in-Council and Chiefand-Council arrangements. Federated Native Authorities were also set up to
cater for communities not directly under the Emirates. In many cases, dissimilar communities in terms
of history and tradition were grouped together under this arrangement, coupled with shaky headship
arrangement, the internal harmony and effectiveness of most of the Federated Native Authorities left
much to be desired (Ekong 1985).
The emphasis of the 1950s was the democratisation of the local government system in the country,
and the historical climb-down meant that, for traditional authorities in the South-East and South-West
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of the country, democratisation meant the loss of their executive role for a participatory role in the
affairs of local government. The extent to which traditional rulers were involved in the decision
making process at the local level during this period depended on how much influence individual
traditional rulers wielded in the eyes of the political actors at this level. In the North, the introduction
of the Chief-in-Council and Chief-and-Council did not succeed in taking away the executive powers
of the Emirs, who still local executive functions (Last 1999).
Before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the contention by a cross-section of nationalists that the
institution of traditional rulership was in direct conflict with democratic ideals as the system was
personalised had gained considerable momentum. After independence, the political elites continued
to try to reduce the influence of traditional rulers in local decision-making. From 1960 to 1966, when
the military seized power, the democratisation effort in Eastern and Western Regions had a significant
adverse effect on influence of traditional rulers in local decision-making. In most parts of the
Northern Region, however, the Emirs were still in control of their Councils as the democratisation
effort appeared to be neutralised by their overwhelming influence. By January 15, 1966 when the
military seized power, the extent of influence of traditional rulers was greatly influenced by which
side of the political fence they faced (Orewa & Adewumi 1983).
The assumption of political power by the military in 1966 had substantial implications for to role of
traditional rulers in local government. In the Northern States between 1966 and 1972
Customary/Native Courts were taken over by state governments, and Prisons and Police were taken
over by the Federal Government. The nomenclature of Native Authority was dropped and the
existing Native Authorities balkanised into independent local government units, but the Emirs were
still influential in the decision-making process at the local level. New provisions were introduced for
election of two-thirds of the membership of the Local Government Councils. In Western states
(including the Mid-west), before 1966, the role of traditional rulers in local government had been
essentially ceremonial. The situation was the same in parts of the Eastern States where traditional
rulership still existed (Ola & Tonwe 2009).
At the terminal phase of the Mohammed/Obasanjo military regime which ended in 1979, the Federal
Military Government in consultation with State Governments attempted to institute a uniform role for
traditional rulers throughout the country through the 1976 Local Government Reform. Traditional
rulers were insulated from politics and formally assigned advisory roles in local decision-making
through Traditional/Emirate Councils (GLGR 1976). The advice of the traditional rulers is not
binding on the elected local government councilors.
The strongest opposition to these reforms came from the traditional rulers in the Northern Nigera,
where traditional rulers still played a significant role in the decision making process at the local level,
so the effect of the uniform advisory role was obviously more significant. For the traditional rulers in
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the South-West and South-East of the country, their being assigned advisory role by the 1976 Reform
was only stating in 'black and white’ what had been their role for well over a decade (Uchendu 1965).
Thus, it appears that the problem of traditional rulers is more of a Northern problem where the
existence of dual authority structure, the traditional and the secular is very pronounced. In the country
at large, however, the crux of the problem lies with the degree of decision-making prominence which
the government gives to dynastic traditional rulers in the context of a gradually evolving local
government system directed at popular representation, citizen participation and mobilisation, and their
role as informed observers and ceremonial participants in matters of local government (Adewumi &
Egwurube 1985:31).
After the inception of the 1979 Constitution, traditional rulers were very critical that the constitution
did not mention their role in local government. Traditional rulers, particularly those in the North,
were far from being contented with the advisory/ceremonial role assigned to them. The degree of
prominence in local decision-making that traditional rulers could be given by democratically elected
local government councils guaranteed by the Constitution was the subject of heated debates during the
Second Republic from 1979-1983 (Gboyega 1987). These debates did not quite concretise before the
military seized power again in December, 1983.
Perhaps in response to the call by traditional rulers for constitutional recognition of their role in local
government, the 1989 Constitution spelt out the functions of a Traditional Council at local
government level. Critically speaking, this development cannot be regarded as an enhancement of
their role in local government affairs, as the 1999 Constitution does not specify the functions of
traditional authorities. The on-going effort of the Nigerian Senate to fashion a constitutional role for
traditional rulers in is timely and in the right direction (Vanguard 2012:13).
Emergent local government system: persistence of co-existence
Having catalogued the historical antecedents that frame the present status of traditional rulers in the
country, the next important area of examination is the extent to which traditional authorities and local
governments co-exist in contemporary Nigerian local government.
Under the 1999 Constitution, it is obvious that local governments should play a leading role in the
emergent order, as traditional rulers are still vital to the attainment of economic progress and political
stability at the local level. The continued relevance of traditional authorities to the local government
system in contemporary Nigeria as Egwurube (1985:34) rightly noted may be attributed to the
following reasons. First, participant political culture among the majority the citizens, especially in
rural areas is still dormant. Second, traditional authorities are still legitimate in the eyes many people.
Third, attempts to institutionalise alternative local leadership structures in modern, stable and elected
local government institutions, that would eventually receive the overall acceptance of the citizenry,
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have largely failed. Thus institutions which essentially have a local base must complement the efforts
of each other for effective governance at the local level.
To ensure that this is achieved, efforts have been made to state the working relationship between
traditional authorities and local government in the country. In spite of this, there are frictions, and the
peaceful co-existence between both institutions is very much in doubt. Two major reasons are given.
First, traditional rulers, especially those who were very powerful in the past, are disillusioned with the
present political arrangement, which assigns them only nominal advisory roles in local government
affairs. A number of traditional rulers have expressed their concern in seminars and conferences on
traditional authorities and local government relations. Prominent traditional rulers such as the Oba of
Benin and the Alafin of Oyo have vehemently expressed their dissatisfaction with how traditional
institutions and their rulers have been relegated to the background over the years (Amadi 2007).
Unsurprisingly, concerted efforts by traditional rulers to enhance their role in the local government
and macro-political affairs have pre-occupied them more than anything else. This posture has greatly
affected their interest in and contribution to the effectiveness of local government under the present
dispensation.
Second, there is a great deal of insensitivity amongst modern elected local government councillors to
the ego of tradition rulers. Even though they are assigned advisory roles, relevant provisions are not
fully respected. Legislation in the former Bendel Sate (now transferred to the replacement Edo and
Delta States) specifies the role of traditional councils at local government level Section 47 of Part
VIII of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict, 1979 specifies the following functions:
a) Formulation of general proposals by way of advice to the Local Government or to all local
governments in the area.
b) Harmonisation and co-ordination of development plans of such local governments by joint
discussions and advice.
c) To assist in the maintenance of law and order (Bendel State of Nigeria, 1979).
Under the same Edict, the Secretary to the local government is also required to furnish the President
of the Traditional Council with copies of all meeting minutes of the Local Government Council,
copies of all agendas, memoranda and other documents and information as would enable the President
to be fully conversant with proceedings of the Local Government Councils. The President also has
the privilege of inspecting all books, including minute books of the Local Government Council or
Councils where there are two or more local government councils under his jurisdiction, to enable him
obtain sufficient information for full discharge of the functions conferred on him under the Edict.
The traditional rulers have complained on many occasions that, because the role envisaged for them
under the Edict is advisory, local government administrators see the implementation of these
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provisions as inconsequential and an unnecessary burden. This situation has further alienated
traditional rulers from the activities of local governments, with varying results. Some traditional rulers
have cited shabby treatment by elected local government functionaries as justification for their
lukewarm attitude in performing their advisory role in their local government areas (Amadi 2007). In
addition, modern local government actors themselves seem to portray any role of traditional rulers in
governance as an unnecessary burden. This is all the more disturbing as a huge amount of public
money is spent by state and local governments on the Traditional Councils all over the country. As
much as five percent (5%) of the statutory revenue of local government areas are mandatorily
required to be remitted to traditional councils for their upkeep. This guaranteed source of funding of
traditional authorities was put in place when the military regime under Sani Abachi decreed it in 1995
(Aiyede 2003; Akinwalere 2003:31).
Resolving the tradition/modernity nexus
In the pre-colonial era, as well as substantial part of the colonial era, traditional authorities played a
significant and active role in the governance and development of local government, yet today the very
essence of the institution is being questioned. The issue of relevance of traditional authorities in the
country’s modernizing polity is a highly controversial one, as there are divergent opinions and
interest. Egwurube (1985) identifies three schools of thought in this regard.
One school contends that the institution of traditional rulership should be abolished, as it is an
anachronism in a democratically elected local government system, guaranteed under Section 7(1) of
the 1979, 1989 and 1999 Constitutions, and the parallel institution of traditional rulership is
anomalous. While one envisages a competitive and participatory process, the other is a system based
on authoritarian, personalised tradition. The supporters of this school conclude that, if the country is
serious about ensuring that the citizenry adopts the democratic and participatory culture needed to
quicken the pace of modernisation, then a decisive step needs to be taken to 'jettison this archaic
institution once and for all' to enable the people develop the required orientation in line with the
reality of the present age and time (Ayeni 1985).
The abolitionists have a point in that the principles behind democratic local government and the
institution of traditional rulership are opposed to each other; the solution advanced by them does not
appear realistic. For one thing, the high degree of acceptance of traditional authorities particularly in
the rural areas cannot be dismissed as inconsequential, nor would be abolition of the institution of
traditional rulership easily obliterate rulers' legitimacy and public acceptance. The abolitionist
solution is confrontational and can create chaos in local government operations (Egwurube, 1985: 38).
Perhaps sometimes in the distant future when the polity is fully modernised, there may be no need for
the institution of traditional rulership. However, at this modernizing stage, it is desirable to handle the
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issues relating to traditional authorities with caution and tact, if the objective of achieving a
democratic, stable and durable local government system is to be achieved.
A second school of thought argues for political enhancement, contending that traditional rulers should
be allowed to participate in politics to enhance their political position in the present system,
envisaging a situation where traditional rulers make an effective contribution to local politics.
The adoption of this strategy is bound to be clouded with a number of difficulties. Section 7(1) of
both the 1979, 1989 and 1999 Constitutions guaranteed a system of local government by
democratically elected local government councils and as such does not envisage any active role for
personalised institutions in the operation of local government. Part II of the Fourth Schedule of the
1989 Constitution (the 1999 Constitution has no provisions in this regard) set out the functions of a
Traditional Council at the local government level. The second clause the Schedule clearly states that
nothing in the schedule shall be construed as conferring any executive, legislative and judicial
powers on a Traditional Council’. The chances that the Constitution will be amended to reflect the
political enhancement solution are very slim. The high degree of legitimacy traditional rulers enjoy in
the eyes of the citizenry is based on the belief that the institution of traditional rulership is a sacred
one. Subjecting traditional authorities to rigors of the electoral process and petty politics society
would make them a target of public scrutiny, and would destroy their sacredness thereby destroying
their major source of strength. While the intention is to carve out a prominent role in local
governance for traditional authorities, their strategy may in fact lead to the collapse of the institution
of traditional rulership in the country (Egwurube 1985).
The middlepath in the continuum between the abolitionists and the political enhancers is the
retentionist school of thought, which favours retention of the traditional authorities as participatory
local government actors in advisory and non-executive capacities. The adoption of the retentionist
strategy as Egwurube (1985: 35) rightly observed would not only ensure stability and continuity of
emergent local government system based on democratic and participatory principles, but would also
tap the strength of traditional authorities in the sphere of citizen mobilisation and acceptance of local
government policies. This involvement of traditional rulers in local government affairs, in addition to
their other ceremonial functions, would reduce potential acrimonies and confrontation between local
government actors and traditional authorities. While the retentionist strategy may well serve the need
of the present time, the future of traditional rulership would depend on its adaptability to its evolving
setting and how ingeniously it modernised to maintain the balance between reconciliation with
modernity and obliteration of tradition (Ayeni 1985: xxxviii).
Some developing countries have adopted the radical policy alternative of abolition. In Africa for
example, outright legal abolition of traditional authorities has been pursued by Guinea in 1957,
Burundi in 1960, Mali in 1961, Rwanda in 1962 and Zaire in 1973 (Bamidele 1985:32). In India,
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after initially opting for the retentionist policy, abolished the Zamindari (Feudal) institutions through
the Land Reform Policy, and later through the Constitution of India, 26
th
Amendment Act, 1971. In all
these countries, what is evident is that the system got smashed, but not wiped out. The splintered
particles of the smashed system still float in the macro and micro political processes. The experience
shows that even in a delegitimised state, traditional systems of governance have proved to be a force
at different levels of the polity. Outwardly exhibiting democratic pretentions, such dual systems
continue to display feudal orientations and exploit traditional bases for leadership in various aspects
of social life, but their activisms have had adverse implications for the growth of genuine democracy
as well as political modernisation.
Other countries have adopted a more accommodating retentionist approach, perhaps realizing the
futility of the abolitionist strategy, such as Senegal in 1960, Upper Volta in 1964, the Central African
Republic in 1959, Cameroon in 1959 and 1966, and Congo-Brazzaville in 1967 which have attempted
to adapt traditional institutions to their contemporary political and administrative framework (Dave
1989),. Nigeria should adopt the mellowed retentionist policy in the face of the radical abolitionist
measures taken in the countries listed above. Instead of allowing traditional functionaries to exercise
corrosive influence clandestinely, it is better to clothe them formally with legitimacy. While
disallowing their active involvement in party politics, they can serve as agents of transition from
traditionalism to modernism (Gyekye 1987).
Conclusion
The relevance of traditional institutions to the transformation of African economies and governance
systems is highly disputed in the post-colonial literature. This study does not subscribe to the school
of thought that hold, the view that the traditional system is anachronistic, undemocratic, divisive and
costly; and as such a hindrance to the development and transformation of the continent. It is sad that,
while some scholars are quick to comment that traditional rulers were adaptive enough to be used by
both the colonial and post-colonial State, these scholars are unreceptive to the fact that traditional
rulers can be adaptive in providing their services to a democratic State as catalysts for development.
In Nigeria, traditional rulers still record a high degree of legitimacy in the eyes of the people. There
remains the need integrate the institution into the country's contemporary local government system.
Political and economic development would be more successful when rooted in widely shared
institutions and cultural values which traditional authorities represent. Traditional institutions
constitute crucial resources that have the potential to promote grassroots governance and to facilitate
access of rural communities to public services. The goal of modernisation is to generate a rapid
increase in social wealth and its driving force is economic development. Traditional rulers in Nigeria
are in a privileged position to contribute to this goal, and as such should not be jettisoned.
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... The traditional Igbo society is male-dominated, where men wield more power than women and make crucial decisions. Before the An International Interdisciplinary Journal arrival of Europeans in the fifteenth century, the people had no central ruler (Tonwe & Osemwota, 2013). However, for more accessible communication, the British government empowered warrant chiefs (individuals who acted as tax collectors, judges, and administrators) to represent the people. ...
... However, for more accessible communication, the British government empowered warrant chiefs (individuals who acted as tax collectors, judges, and administrators) to represent the people. A traditional Igbo society is a quasi-democratic patriarchal entity with decentralised and fragmented power (Tonwe & Osemwota, 2013). Today, communities are ruled by a council of elders and a traditional ruler who discharges responsibilities assigned by the people. ...
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... Traditional institutions played a very significant role in the native administrative process of the people prior to colonization of Nigeria. Apart from being the custodian of oral traditional history of the people, they helped to sustain peace and harmony in their respective domains, perform spiritual functions, help in the development of their domains and informally management of conflicts (Nweke, 2012;Tonwe & Osemwota, 2013). ...
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... These institutions also acted as intermediaries between the local population and British officials, even extending their power into areas where they previously had no authority. This sometimes resulted in tensions with the educated elite during that period (Osakede and Ijimakinwa, 2015;Tonwe and Osemwota, 2013). ...
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