Benin Rejects Ooni, Sultan of Sokoto as Council Leaders
- Admin
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
A Benin group called Ogbakha-Edo has said no to a new bill in the National Assembly that would make the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto the permanent co-leaders of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers. As of August 2, 2025, this has sparked a big discussion in Nigeria, especially among people who care about traditional leaders’ roles. The group wants the leadership to rotate among top traditional rulers instead. Let’s look at why they oppose this, the history they’re defending, and what it means for Nigeria.
Instead, they want a system where the leadership rotates among all top traditional rulers in Nigeria. They say the current plan is a bad idea and could cause arguments or hurt cultural feelings. They worry it might make some leaders seem more important than others, which they don’t think is right.
Ogbakha-Edo’s argument is based on the Benin Kingdom’s long history. They say the Benin Empire has been strong for over 1,600 years, even before British rule started. Back then, the Oba wasn’t just a king he was an emperor with control over areas like Edo, Delta, parts of Ondo, Lagos, and even the Benin Republic. His influence stretched north to places like Esanland and the Kukuruku Mountains.
They point out that many other kingdoms, including those now getting attention in the bill, were either not around or were small villages when Benin was a powerful empire. Ogbakha-Edo believes the bill ignores this history and uses old political decisions in a way that isn’t fair.
The Benin people are very proud of their culture, and Ogbakha-Edo wants to protect that. They say the Oba of Benin’s throne is special and respected, built on centuries of leadership. They don’t want it to be put below any other traditional or religious leader, even if it’s for the sake of unity.
They note that the Oba is already one of Nigeria’s top traditional rulers, but this bill feels like it’s trying to reduce his importance in an unfair way. They think true unity should honor all leaders equally, not pick favorites based on politics.
This disagreement could affect how traditional leaders work together in Nigeria. Ogbakha-Edo warns that the bill might cause old tensions to resurface and hurt the country’s unity. By choosing the Ooni and Sultan, it might make other groups feel left out, which could create problems when Nigeria needs to stay strong.
The group’s idea of rotating leadership aims to be fair and include everyone. But some might worry this could make decisions harder or slow things down. Still, it’s a way to make sure all regions and cultures are represented.
Ogbakha-Edo isn’t alone in this fight. Other groups, like the Middle Belt Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, also have concerns about the bill. Some think it’s a way to give power to certain ethnic and religious leaders, while others say it’s a good way to represent different parts of Nigeria. This shows how tricky it is to blend tradition with modern governance in a country with many cultures.
On social media, people have mixed feelings. Some cheer Ogbakha-Edo for standing up for their culture, while others wonder if opposing the bill might split the country more. What the National Assembly does next will be important.
Ogbakha-Edo’s rejection of the bill to make the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto permanent co-leaders of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers is about protecting the Oba of Benin’s proud history. As of August 2, 2025, their push for rotating leadership starts a key conversation about fairness and respect. While the bill wants to unite traditional leaders, it risks dividing them by ignoring the Oba and others. How this plays out could change how traditional authority is handled in Nigeria, balancing the past with the present.
Let the leadership rotate