The President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Etuk, CFR, has expressed strong support for the formal inclusion of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s constitution. He advocated for the recognition of their existing administrative and adjudicatory roles within their domains.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the 2025 South South Monarchs Forum in Calabar on Wednesday, the Akwa Ibom monarch said the time had come to clearly define the place of traditional institutions in the nation’s governance architecture.

His remarks align with growing nationwide calls to integrate traditional institutions more firmly into the governance structure by leveraging their cultural authority, historical legitimacy, and grassroots influence to support peacebuilding, community leadership, and dispute resolution.

According to the royal father, the current 1999 Constitution of Nigeria does not explicitly define the responsibilities or authority of traditional rulers, leading to ambiguity and varied interpretations of their roles across the country.

“As custodians of culture, customs, and agents of dispute resolution, traditional rulers have been playing vital roles in ensuring peace, security, and social harmony. But we need a constitutional framework to enable us to function more effectively,” Etuk said.

He emphasised that traditional rulers are not merely ceremonial figures, but active participants in local administration and guardians of social values and cohesion.

“We must be recognised in the constitution of the country; otherwise, what we are doing is child’s play. This is why I am joining my voice to the growing call to formally recognise these roles within the constitutional framework — potentially through amendments or the ongoing constitutional review process,” he stated.

Etuk further noted that enshrining a constitutional role for traditional institutions would not only enhance their legitimacy and effectiveness but also allow the government to tap into their local expertise in conflict mediation and community development initiatives.