Ita-Giwa rejects Senate proposalon traditional rulers’ council

 Ita-Giwa rejects Senate proposalon traditional rulers’ council

Florence Ita-Giwa

Elder stateswoman and former presidential adviser, Senator (Princess) Florence Ita-Giwa, has strongly criticised a proposal by the Senate through a Bill to designate only the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife as permanent co-chairmen of a proposed National Council of Traditional Rulers.

She warned that such an arrangement risks institutionalising ethnic dominance and erasing critical aspects of Nigeria’s historical heritage.

In a statement issued in Abuja, titled “Not in Our Time: The Obong of Calabar and the Erasure of a Treaty-Bearing Throne”, the former senator from Cross River State described the legislative proposal as “troubling” arguing that it excludes other historically significant thrones, particularly that of the Obong of Calabar.

While reaffirming her respect for the Sultan and the Ooni, two of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional rulers, she warned that permanently elevating their stools above others could send a dangerous message to other ethnic nationalities across the country.

 Ita-Giwa emphasised the historical significance of the Obong of Calabar, noting that the throne is not merely ceremonial but rooted in diplomatic and sovereign authority.

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 She recalled that the Obong signed a formal treaty with Great Britain in 1913—before the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria—demonstrating the throne’s recognition on the international stage.

 Referencing Nigeria’s colonial history, she reminded the Senate that Calabar served as the capital of Southern Nigeria from 1899 until 1906, before the administrative headquarters was moved to Lagos. Even after the amalgamation in 1914, Calabar continued to play a prominent administrative role as a provincial capital.

She also recalled her participation in the 2014 National Conference, where a consensus was reached that no ethnic monarchy should permanently dominate others in any national arrangement.

Ita-Giwa said, “As a concerned elder stateswoman and daughter of the old Eastern Region, I rise with a deep sense of responsibility to address a troubling legislative development—the attempt by the Nigerian Senate to establish a National Council of Traditional Rulers with only the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife named as permanent co-chairmen.

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 “Let me be clear from the onset: I hold the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife in the highest esteem. These are revered monarchs who have contributed immensely to Nigeria’s unity, heritage, and traditional leadership. This is not an attack on their persons or their exalted stools.

“If the National Assembly is sincere, let it propose a rotational leadership structure or a council of equals. That is how you foster unity. That is how you reflect the true diversity of Nigeria’s royal heritage.

“I strongly believe that ethnic dominance should not be institutionalized in a nation as diverse and historically rich as Nigeria. This move, though perhaps well-intentioned, sends a disturbing message. It risks excluding other respected royal stools and rewriting Nigeria’s pre-colonial and post-colonial history.

“Let it be firmly stated: The Obong of Calabar is not a ceremonial monarch. He is a Treaty King. In 1913, before Nigeria’s amalgamation, the Obong of Calabar signed a formal treaty with Great Britain—an act signifying diplomatic agency and sovereign status. The Efik Kingdom, which the Obong represents, had long been a key player in regional governance, trade, and diplomacy.

 “The throne is not subordinate to any other; it stands as a sovereign symbol of a people and a place that helped shape Nigeria’s early history. From 1899 to April, 1906, Calabar served as capital of Southern Nigeria and only lost that status to Lagos in May, 1906 when Southern Nigeria and Lagos Colony were merged. Calabar subsequently served as provincial headquarters in the wake of the amalgamation between the Southern and Northern Nigeria.

 “You cannot build a Nigeria of peace by institutionalizing exclusion. If we must honour history, let us do so holistically. To elevate two thrones above all others is to tell the rest of Nigeria that their histories are secondary, their monarchies invisible, and their voices disposable. That is not the spirit of equity our nation needs.

 “I was privileged to be a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, where this issue arose, and we agreed—no ethnic throne should permanently dominate others. It was a wise, patriotic decision. We must not regress.

 “This is not just about the Efik people. It is about preserving truth, promoting fairness, and protecting the dignity of all Nigeria’s traditional institutions. The Obong of Calabar occupies a highly revered and historically significant throne, deserving of equal recognition and respect alongside any other.

 “Let history not say we were silent in the face of selective remembrance. Let posterity know we stood for equity. Not in our time. Not while I live. Enough is enough.”