Atiku backs calls for constitutional reforms to recognize traditional institutions

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has lent his voice
to the calls for constitutional reform that will not just recognize traditional institutions in the nation’s laws but also define the responsibilities of their offices.
Atiku expressed his support for the calls for the reforms in a statement signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja.
He pointed out that the reforms being advocated for is even more important in view of the collective drive to stem the ugly tide of terrorism and sundry security challenges at the local levels.
The former Vice President recalled that traditional institutions formed the governance structures before the advent of the colonialists, adding that they, indeed ,governed well.
He maintained , strongly, that the traditional institutions are must be protected and preserved and must not be destroyed
The reforms, according to him, are even more important in view of the collective drive to stem the ugly tide of terrorism and sundry security challenges at the local levels.
He thus appealed to state governors to accord the necessary respect to the offices of traditional institutions, stressing that the customs that the traditional rulers represent is the totality of country’s heritage as a people.
In the words of the erstwhile PDP presidential candidate, “Recent developments in the country has 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 is 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.
“Although our constitution, in its current format, does not ascribe any recognition to traditional institutions, yet our experiences show clearly that they perform enormous roles in the economic life of their domains, as well as maintenance of peace and security in communities.
“I wish to remind that the traditional institutions formed the governance structures before the advent of the colonialists. And they governed well. Consequently, they are institutions we must protect and preserve and not destroy. “