In recent weeks, political conversations across Nigeria have intensified following reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu convened a high-level meeting in Abuja with prominent traditional rulers from Southern Nigeria—specifically from the Southeast, South-South, and Southwest geopolitical zones. On the surface, the gathering appeared to be a strategic move aimed at fostering regional unity and strengthening cooperation among traditional institutions in the South. However, beneath the polished optics of unity and collaboration, serious questions are emerging regarding the true intent and long-term implications of the proposed Southern Traditional Leaders Alliance.
At the center of this development is an alleged plan to establish a structured alliance of Southern monarchs that would serve as a counterweight to the existing national traditional leadership structure headed by the Sultan of Sokoto. Currently, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs is led by Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and is widely regarded as one of the most influential traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria. The Sultan’s leadership position in interfaith and traditional dialogues has historically carried significant weight in national politics.
The reported intention to create a Southern bloc of traditional rulers—if accurately portrayed—suggests a strategic recalibration of traditional authority dynamics within Nigeria’s fragile political ecosystem. Yet what has ignited controversy is not merely the concept of regional alignment, but the alleged proposal that the Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, would be appointed as the sole permanent chairman of this proposed alliance.
The Symbolism of the Ooni of Ife in Southern Politics
The Ooni of Ife occupies one of the most historically significant traditional stools in Yoruba civilization. Ile-Ife is widely regarded in Yoruba cosmology as the cradle of humanity, and the Ooni is often described as a spiritual and cultural symbol of Yoruba heritage. Since ascending the throne in 2015, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has positioned himself as a pan-African cultural ambassador, engaging with political leaders, investors, and international institutions.
However, Southern Nigeria is not culturally monolithic. The Southeast, predominantly Igbo; the South-South, largely comprising minority ethnic nationalities such as Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Itsekiri, and Urhobo; and the Southwest, primarily Yoruba, all possess distinct historical trajectories, traditional hierarchies, and political sensibilities. To propose a permanent leadership structure headed by one monarch from one region within such a diverse bloc naturally raises concerns.
Critics argue that making the Ooni a permanent chairman risks institutionalizing perceived marginalization within a structure that is ostensibly designed to promote unity. The central question remains: can genuine unity be achieved if the leadership framework appears structurally skewed from inception?
Historical Context: Traditional Institutions and Nigerian Politics
Traditional rulers in Nigeria hold constitutionally advisory roles. While the 1999 Constitution does not grant them executive political authority, their influence remains immense at grassroots levels. They are custodians of culture, mediators in communal disputes, and informal political mobilizers during elections.
In many instances, traditional rulers have been courted by political actors seeking electoral legitimacy. The intersection between monarchy and modern democratic politics has often produced delicate balancing acts. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, political realignments are already underway across party lines, ethnic blocs, and geopolitical zones.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), faces the strategic task of consolidating support across regions where electoral margins were contested. Southern Nigeria, particularly the Southeast, has remained politically sensitive due to historical grievances and ongoing agitations for self-determination.
The Biafra Question and IPOB’s Influence
Any political maneuver involving traditional institutions in the Southeast inevitably intersects with the Biafra question. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), founded by Nnamdi Kanu, has continued to advocate for the restoration of Biafra as a sovereign state. Though IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017, its ideological presence remains influential in segments of the Southeast.
For many Biafran sympathizers, any federal engagement with traditional rulers in the region is scrutinized through a lens of political strategy. The suspicion articulated in some quarters is that a Southern Traditional Leaders Alliance could function as a political instrument—one designed to secure endorsements, shape narratives, and reduce resistance ahead of the 2027 elections.
While no verified public evidence substantiates claims of foreign intelligence involvement, allegations referencing advisory roles from agencies such as France’s Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE) have surfaced in activist discourse. However, it is important to state that no official confirmation has validated such claims.
Unity or Marginalization?
The core issue raised by critics is not merely the creation of an alliance but the structure of its leadership. Unity, in plural societies, is often measured not by symbolic gatherings but by inclusive processes. If prominent monarchs from the Southeast and South-South perceive exclusion or tokenism, the alliance risks reinforcing the very divisions it purports to heal.
In multi-ethnic political arrangements, leadership rotation, consensus-building mechanisms, and equitable representation are often adopted to mitigate dominance perceptions. Nigeria’s federal character principle itself was designed to address historical imbalances in representation across regions. Applying similar logic to a Southern traditional bloc would seem consistent with principles of fairness and inclusivity.
The argument advanced by critics is straightforward: if unity is the objective, then leadership must reflect the diversity of the bloc. A permanent chairmanship concentrated in one region could be interpreted as entrenching hierarchy rather than fostering solidarity.
Electoral Calculations and 2027
With the 2027 presidential election cycle on the horizon, strategic coalition-building is inevitable. Traditional rulers possess significant soft power. Their public endorsements can influence community sentiment, particularly in rural constituencies.
Political analysts note that the Southeast delivered comparatively low electoral support to President Tinubu in 2023. Any effort to strengthen alliances with influential institutions in the region could therefore be interpreted as part of broader electoral calculations. However, strategic engagement does not automatically imply manipulation; the distinction depends on transparency, consultation, and mutual respect.
If traditional leaders perceive engagement as transactional or coercive, backlash could follow. Conversely, if consultations are inclusive and respectful of regional autonomy, collaboration could enhance interregional dialogue.
Respect, Recognition, and Equality
Underlying the controversy is a deeper emotional and historical dimension: the question of respect. For many in the Southeast, memories of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) and subsequent political marginalization narratives remain potent. Any policy initiative perceived as bypassing consultation with local stakeholders can trigger suspicions of contempt or disregard.
The legitimacy of any Southern alliance will depend not merely on its structure but on the transparency of its formation process. Were consultations held with all relevant monarchs? Was consensus reached? Are leadership roles rotational or permanent? These procedural details matter immensely in plural societies.
A Defining Moment for Southern Political Architecture
Nigeria’s traditional institutions continue to evolve within a modern democratic framework. Whether this proposed Southern Traditional Leaders Alliance becomes a unifying force or a flashpoint for renewed regional tensions will depend on how inclusively it is designed and implemented.
The symbolism of gathering monarchs from across the South could signal a historic recalibration of regional collaboration. Yet symbolism alone cannot substitute for structural equity.
As political discourse intensifies ahead of 2027, Nigerians across regions will closely watch how this development unfolds. Will it represent a genuine attempt at Southern solidarity? Or will it reinforce suspicions of political maneuvering and marginalization?
In complex federations such as Nigeria, unity cannot be decreed—it must be negotiated, balanced, and continuously nurtured. The coming months will reveal whether this initiative strengthens the South’s collective voice or deepens existing fault lines.
For now, one truth remains clear: in a nation as diverse as Nigeria, legitimacy flows not from permanence of power, but from fairness of process.
0 Comments