Africa 

         Nigeria BY CHIPPLA

                                                   IN SEARCH OF TRUE REPUBLICANS

Today, nations which are monarchies have kings or queens who are some of the wealthiest people on the planet. The royal families of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are made up of some of the wealthiest people in the world. In Swaziland, the King rules with absolute power and anyone calling for the removal of the monarch could be charged to court! From the days when monarchs claimed some form of divine right to rule, they have always had a way of appealing to some people. To others, they are an institution that should be done away with.

Nigeria, like a number of African nations, calls itself a republic. Yet, within this republic are dozens, if not hundreds of monarchs sitting on thrones that most citizens know practically nothing about. As a modern nation state, Nigeria is the product of the British empire. Before the advent of British rule, some of these monarchies existed. A few were created by the British rulers to serve their needs. Either way, monarchies are presently a part of the Nigerian landscape, especially for those who dwell in rural areas.

Most people who live in the province of Lagos may know next to nothing about the various monarchs that dot it. Nigerian monarchs continuously strguggle for greater recognition by the governemnt. There are first class and second class chiefs (I cannot be certain if there are third class chiefs). The higher a monarch's status, the greater his or her voice and the bigger his allowance from the governemnt. The only role I see most monarchs performing in Nigeria today is the dishing out of so-called traditional or chieftancy titles, in some cases to men and women of dubious characters. These titles enable one to be addressed as "chief." Next time you hear the Nigerian president addressed as "Chief Olusegun Obsanjo" as he often is on national television, you should understand why. Once in a while, monarchs are involved in conflict resolution, but this is outweighted by the divisions and sectarianism which their officies stand for.

Once upon a time, monarchs had a role to play in Nigerian society. Today, they have no true role. This calls into question why they not only still exist but also why their upkeep is being met from the public purse. The days of ceremonial leadership, when a man or woman sat on a throne claiming divine rights, and lorded over his or her subjects should be over. Royal hereditary rights by bloodline ought to be outlawed. The children of first class chiefs in Nigeria (some of whom are currently studying in foreign universities in the United States and Europe, likely on public funds!) should struggle through life like every other Nigerian child.

Nigerian monarchs, who are meant to serve as the conscience of the nation, have shown all-too-well in the past that they are unable to question evil. During the tyrannical regime of the late General Sani Abacha, they were numb silent on what was going on. Abacha had earlier deposed one of them, showing for the first time in living memory that they were not untouchable.
Republicanism calls for the recognition of the dignity of all men and women. In essence, it questions the existence of systems that tend to elevate a certain section of society above others due to hereditary rights. Greater Nigerian unity calls for the weakining of institutions that perevent this. One such institution is the monarchy. Those who believe in this should work towards the creation and elevation of true republican parties and movments that recognize and reward the individual for his/her hard work and creativity rather than for his/her birthright.

                                                                                    The Sultan of Sokoto

Nigeria never ceases to amaze one. Just recently after a National Conference was convened to discuss the country's problems and future, some Muslim leaders faulted the fact that the Chairman and Secretary of the conference, who were both nominated by the Nigerian president, are Christians. Though Nigeria is officially split 50-50 between the Islamic and Christian faiths (leaving out the fact that millions of Nigerians consider themselves to be African traditionalists), one could also go as far as faulting the composition of the conference along other lines. Women's groups for instance have complained bitterly about the under representation of women at the conference.
The Sultan of Sokoto, who is the de-facto spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims called on Muslim participants to boycott the conference. His anger stemmed from the fact that though he led a delegation of Muslim leaders to visit the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo over the issue of the two top posts at the conference being "given" to Christians, he was more or less ignored. Rumors however abound about the creation of the post of co-Secretary, who would be a Muslim.

In addition to being a spiritual leader, the Sultan of Sokoto is also a traditional leader, i.e. a monarch. And some members of the conference are already calling for the abolition of traditional institutions in Nigeria. In other words, Nigeria should get rid of its monarchies. Some may argue that monarchs are custodians of culture. "Which culture?" I would like to ask. Why should anyone receive money from the national coffers without actively participating in the development of a country?

Traditional institutions should in my opinion be done away with in Nigeria. The country will definitely be much better off without them. They help in propagating sectarianism and divisions, both detrimental to the development of a Nigerian identity. As one member of the conference put it

"…it is that same identity [which traditional institutions help keep in place] that separates us from our brothers in different parts of the country today…"

Furthermore, traditional institutions are renowned for bestowing chieftaincy titles on brigands and thieves who steal from the national coffers. All it takes these days to be granted a chieftaincy title in Nigeria is to be very rich. And the source of your wealth? Well, they don't really care.

Away with them.

Electricity in Nigeria