The institution of traditional leadership in Nigeria represents a bridge between the ancient past and the modern state. As custodians of culture and the primary symbols of communal unity, traditional rulers occupy a sacred space.
However, this sanctity is increasingly threatened by the encroachment of partisan politics. When a monarch descends into the political arena, the crown is often stained by the divisiveness of the ballot box, leading to a breakdown in social cohesion and the erosion of royal authority.
The situation in Benue State Zone C (Benue South) serves as a poignant case study of this tension. Recent allegations have surfaced regarding the Och’Idoma, HRM Agaba-Idu Dr. John Elaigwu Odogbo, suggesting an inappropriate level of “hobnobbing” with the political class.
Critics argue that when a supreme ruler is perceived to be cozying up to specific political actors or influencing government appointments, the palace ceases to be a neutral ground. In a pluralistic society like the Idoma nation, where political leanings vary across families and clans, a partisan monarch risks becoming a ruler of only a faction, rather than a father to all.
This concern was recently amplified by the former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. In a stern address, Ortom condemned the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan maneuvers, describing such actions as a “desecration” of the ancestral stool.
He argued that the moment a ruler takes sides, they forfeit their role as an impartial arbiter. Ortom’s critique highlights a fundamental truth: the stability of the state relies on the traditional institution remaining an “apolitical anchor” amidst the shifting winds of democratic transitions.
The setbacks caused by such meddling are tangible. Historically, whenever traditional rulers have aligned with political parties, communal strife follows. Families are divided, and the ruler’s ability to mediate land or chieftaincy disputes is compromised because they are no longer seen as an honest broker.
Furthermore, it stunts development; a ruler who is viewed as a “political appointee” of the sitting government cannot effectively hold that government accountable for the neglect of their people’s infrastructure or security needs.
Instead of partisan meddling, traditional rulers should focus on social engineering and conflict resolution. Their role is to provide local intelligence to combat insecurity, promote the cultural identity of their people, and act as a moral check on the excesses of the political class. To preserve the dignity of the throne, the monarch must remain a spectator of the political game, not a player.
Godwin Anyebe is an award winning Journalist and a Rights Activist.
