Traditional rulers across Nigeria have intensified their appeal for constitutional recognition, insisting that empowering monarchs with clearly defined responsibilities is essential to addressing the escalating security challenges confronting communities nationwide.
The latest call was championed by His Royal Majesty Udurhie I, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom and Publicity Secretary of the Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council, during a high-level gathering of traditional institutions.
HRM Udurhie emphasized that the worsening insecurity in many parts of the country demands a more community-driven approach one that fully integrates traditional governance structures.
He argued that monarchs, who have long served as custodians of culture and peace at the grassroots, remain the first point of contact in local conflict situations and are therefore strategically positioned to support federal and state security frameworks.
“Lasting peace in Nigeria’s communities depends heavily on the active involvement of traditional rulers,” he stated.
“We are closer to the people, we understand the terrain, and we can mediate disputes before they escalate. Giving monarchs constitutional authority will strengthen governance and enhance national stability.”
The renewed advocacy comes at a time when concerns over bandit attacks, communal clashes, kidnapping and other security threats continue to rise across the country’s 774 local government areas.
Traditional rulers argue that without formal recognition and legal backing, their contributions to conflict resolution, intelligence gathering and community development remain limited despite their influence and access at the grassroots.
Stakeholders at the gathering urged the federal government and National Assembly to amend relevant laws to incorporate traditional institutions into the security architecture.
They stressed that granting monarchs constitutional roles would enable more effective collaboration with law enforcement agencies while reinforcing preventative measures within local communities.
The meeting concluded with a unified appeal for structural reforms that would strengthen traditional governance and empower monarchs to more robustly support national peace-building efforts.
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