Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly criticised a bill in the Senate seeking to make the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto the exclusive co-chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers, describing it as discriminatory and harmful to national unity.
In a statement on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, expressed shock over what he called an “asymmetric” proposal, saying it undermines the principles of fairness, equity, and federal character as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
“We are profoundly astounded by the rationale for such an asymmetric bill by the Senate, with its utter disregard for fairness, equity, justice, and the principle of federal character.
“The Senate, in this vein, has failed in its capacity as the highest legislative carrier and custodian of the nation’s democratic mandate,” Chukwu said.
Ohanaeze further described the bill as “inequitable, ethnocentric, and objectionable,” insisting that it has no place in a pluralistic nation like Nigeria.
“This bill is not only inequitable, discriminatory, and ethnocentric, it is equally distasteful, reprehensible, and objectionable. It lacks all the ethical considerations, objective metrics, and unbiased categories for national unity and social justice,” Chukwu added.
He called for the immediate withdrawal of the bill, stressing the need for a more inclusive approach that reflects Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo hence calls for the urgent withdrawal of the bill and the need to review it in consideration of ethnic differences, cultural sensitivity, geopolitical balance, inclusive governance, and equitable representation.
“It is only by so doing that the bill can foster national unity, peaceful co-existence, and social stability,” he said.
