Benin Group Rejects Bill Granting Sultan, Ooni Permanent Co-Chair Roles in National Council of Traditional Rulers
A prominent Benin socio-cultural organization, Ogbakha-Edo, has strongly rejected a proposed bill seeking to grant the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife permanent co-chairmanship positions in the planned National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), insisting instead on a rotational leadership structure.
In a statement issued on Saturday, August 2, 2025, and signed by its Chairman, Prof. Sam Guobadia, and Secretary, Dr. Andrew Osaretin Izekor, the group described the provision in the bill as “ill-conceived, historically unjustifiable, and culturally insensitive,” warning that it could lead to unnecessary division among traditional institutions across the country.
The group argued that no single monarch or select group of monarchs should hold permanent leadership positions in a council meant to represent all first-class traditional rulers in Nigeria. According to Ogbakha-Edo, the move would amount to sidelining other revered monarchs, particularly the Oba of Benin, whose throne, they stressed, is among the oldest and most influential in Africa.
“The history of traditional rulership in Nigeria did not begin with the Sultanate or the Ooni’s throne. The Benin monarchy predates both and commands respect worldwide. Attempting to permanently anoint two monarchs as co-chairmen of the council is an affront to equity, history, and the cultural heritage of other kingdoms,” the statement read.
The organization called on the National Assembly to withdraw or amend the bill, recommending a rotational chairmanship system that would give every first-class monarch an opportunity to preside over the council based on merit, seniority, and historical relevance.
The proposed National Council of Traditional Rulers Bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong, passed its second reading in the Senate in March 2025. The bill seeks to create a formal platform for monarchs to contribute to national development, particularly in areas of peacebuilding, security, and cultural preservation. However, the clause giving the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife permanent leadership positions has continued to stir controversy.
Ogbakha-Edo warned that passing the bill in its current form would breed resentment and weaken unity among Nigeria’s traditional institutions, emphasizing that leadership within the council must be based on fairness and collective representation, not political expediency.
The group vowed to mobilize other cultural organizations and stakeholders to resist the clause, saying it undermines Nigeria’s rich and diverse traditional heritage.
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