Colonial government was administered by Governors and when faced in conflict with a traditional ruler they were known for deposing and sending the traditional rulers on exile.

Kings in Lagos, Ijebu Ode, Benin, Opobo, Idah, Sokoto, and a few others were deposed and banished from their domain. The Governors could have opted to take their disputes and complaints against the Kings to Court to seek redress. Instead they acted brashly and with impunity to insult and violate entities held as divine authorities over the native cultures.

After seizing rights over land and unjustly occupying native lands, Colonial Government assigned itself the authority and Kings as subordinates. The Colonial Governor told the King what he wanted and the King made it happen in the land. This was the system of indirect rule. Most times what the foreigner wants to do clashes with customs and traditions and the King must not go against customs of his ancestors. This often result in accusations of insubordination and carries penalties. A suspension, a dethronement or a reduction in the King's salary.

Prior to the Colonial System, the cultures that had dynastic Kingdoms, Empires, Chiefdoms, also had a fine tuned system of check and balance that protects subjects and territories from the excesses of a King. The natives had a protocol through which an erring King can be removed from throne. Typically that process itself is embedded in the customs and traditions of the people, and thus everyone is the King's subject, except the check and balance, to which the King himself is a subject. It can thus be said that traditional check and balance of power embedded in the peoples culture was a Constitution to which the King must comply.

The King is custodian of culture, the Governor is not. Our cultures are at risk if Governors office is not put in check and its authority over traditional King is allowed to be abused. A Governor that dethrones a King insults and violates the people culture. If a King errs, the cultural check and balance should be invoked for application to his situation. If a Governor has dispute with a King, he must approach the Courts, this is civilized and progressive. A Governor that uses power of his office to remove a King is living the legacy of Colonial government.

Colonial Government ended half a century ago, its powers and styles was never in harmony with our traditional cultures, and by God, it is not now. Governors powers over traditional rulers need to be reviewed and revised at individual ethnic and cultural level.

Since monarchs have no powers. Scrap them as they are a burden on national purse

ednut1:
Since monarchs have no powers. Scrap them as they are a burden on national purse

Nigeria is culturally in-authentic. If we scrap traditional rulers we will severely impact culture and customs for the indiependent ethnic nations, and thus go against many UN mandates that regulate government and society on native lands. If we scrap Monarchs we must scrap masquerade, we must scrap almost all festivals and observance. For instance in Lagos, Eyo obtains authority for presentation from monarch.

Many monarchs can self fund, and don't need government money. The reason they are on govt payrol is also a legacy of colonial government. Return their domains to them, they will not need govt money.

Request4Comment:


Nigeria is culturally in-authentic. If we scrap traditional rulers we will severely impact culture and customs for the indiependent ethnic nations, and thus go against many UN mandates that regulate government and society on native lands. If we scrap Monarchs we must scrap masquerade, we must scrap almost all festivals and observance. For instance in Lagos, Eyo obtains authority for presentation from monarch.

Many monarchs can self fund, and don't need government money. The reason they are on govt payrol is also a legacy of colonial government. Return their domains to them, they will not need govt money.

return fire. We are in a democracy.

return fire. We are in a democracy.
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Do you mean democrazy? The government of thugs. The country"s mental disposition is not ready for a system without the traditional grassroots leadership. It may feel like there is a government in places like Lagos or kano where touts like the police, lasma and all the numerous extortion racketeering outfits that extort monies from hapless citizens in the name of government agencies. But in predominantly rural areas, the only time the local government show face is on market days, to extort monies from hardworking market women and men, the rest of the time the communities are left to the traditional rulers, the chiefs and elders to manage the domestics, social, economic and cultural issues of the people.

It is the only cohesive institution in Nigeria at the moment and as soon as it is destroyed, the country will be in unstoppable catastrophic freefall like Somalia and the Fulanis who have no abodes and dynamic cultures.