Kogi elders reject bill to make Sultan, Ooni permanent co-chairmen of traditional rulers

Members of Kogi East Elders’ Council (KEEC) have rejected a provision in the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2025, seeking to make the Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife the permanent co-chairmen of the council.

In a statement signed yesterday by the Director of Communications, Ambassador Ali Ocheni, the council called on the National Assembly to retract any clause in the proposed bill that seeks to assign permanent leadership of the council to any throne, unless by rotational consensus of all member monarchs, in the interest of historical justice and national unity.

Describing the bill as bizarre, the council held that the Ata Igala shall not be drawn into petty rivalries nor accept the revision of history by legislative fiat, but shall continually stand on historical accuracy, cultural justice and the dignity of the Igala Kingdom.

It therefore called for the recognition of Ata Igala as a principal royal authority, whose contributions to the formation of Nigeria are legally, diplomatically and historically incontestable.

According to the statement, it is essentially necessary to crystallise the ancient cultural heritage and historical significance of monarchies such as the Ata Igala, which predated both the Sokoto Caliphate and the Nigerian federation.

It said: “The stool of the Ata Igala, ruler of one of the foremost traditional kingdoms in today’s Nigeria, has maintained its sovereignty and distinct identity for centuries. Thus, the idea of a legislation that seeks to elevate one traditional institution above others (nay, the Igala traditional Monarch) based on flawed historical narratives and religious affiliations is demeaning of the great, thriving traditional institutions and cultures that have thrived for ages on the country’s political landscapes.”

“The Igala Kingdom, with its roots tracing back to the 9th Century, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of its forebears, who stood gallantly for its preservation and continuance through the turbulence of the past ages.”