Traditional Institutions Must Be Protected – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed worry over what he described as a growing tendency of state governments to exert influence by distorting the modalities of enthroning traditional stools.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, stressed that traditional institutions must be protected from the arbitrariness of state governments.

In a statement issued on Tuesday via his X handle, the former Vice President said it would become difficult to maintain peace and orderliness in communities if the structure of ascension of traditional rulers was unstable.
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He, therefore, called for constitutional reform that will not only recognize traditional institutions in the nation’s laws but also define the responsibilities of their offices.

Atiku read: [b]“Recent developments in the country have seen a growing tendency of state governments exerting influence in distorting the modalities of enthroning traditional stools.

“It is a reality that stares us in the face from every corner of the country.

“While it is understandable that the institutions of traditional rulership are in the exclusive purview of the state government, although through the local government authorities, it must be established that traditional institutions constitute a component of our governance structure.

“And thus, traditional institutions must be protected from the arbitrariness of state governments that threaten their stability.

“When the structure of ascension of traditional rulers is unstable, it will become equally difficult to maintain peace and orderliness in communities.