Ohanaeze Ndigbo Condemns Senate Bill to Elevate Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly condemned the Senate bill seeking to permanently appoint the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as the sole Co-Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.

The group argued that the move sidelines apex traditional rulers from other ethnic groups and geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Ezechi Chukwu, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, made the remarks in a statement on Sunday in Enugu.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bill recently passed its second reading in the Senate.

Chukwu expressed shock at the justification given for the bill, describing it as unfair and dismissive of the principles of fairness, equity, justice, and federal character enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

He said, “The Senate, as the nation’s highest legislative authority and custodian of the democratic mandate, has failed in this instance.”

Chukwu further criticized the bill as “inequitable, discriminatory, ethnocentric, and objectionable,” adding that it lacks ethical grounding, objective criteria, and respect for Nigeria’s diversity.

He called for the immediate withdrawal and review of the bill to ensure it respects ethnic diversity, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, inclusive governance, and fair representation.

“Only through such revisions can the bill contribute to national unity, peaceful coexistence, and social stability,” Chukwu emphasized.