BEYOND THE THRONE: CAN NIGERIA ACHIEVE LASTING PEACE WITHOUT THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF TRADITIONAL RULERS? BY DR. AKANDE, KAZEEM BABATUNDE

mni
CHAIRMAN, GOVERNING COUNCIL, AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (AIJP)
RECTOR, WESTERN COAST MARITIME ACADEMY (WECMA)
PRESIDENT, ECOLERITE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
MD/CEO, ECOLETECH AGRIBUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED, IBADAN
Email: ambakandemni@gmail.com | Phone: 08036669747

Nigeria continues to confront complex security and social challenges, including communal conflicts, farmer-herder disputes, land disagreements, political violence, ethnic and religious tensions, youth restiveness, kidnapping and violent extremism. While government institutions and security agencies remain central to addressing these challenges, an important grassroots institution that requires greater integration into national peacebuilding efforts is the traditional institution.
Traditional rulers occupy a unique position in Nigerian society as custodians of culture, community identity, customary values and local heritage. Their knowledge of local history, family relationships, community grievances, land boundaries and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms places them in a strategic position to prevent conflicts, mediate disputes and promote reconciliation.
This raises an important question: Can Nigeria achieve sustainable peace when those who understand the history, relationships and grievances of local communities are not systematically integrated into the national peacebuilding architecture?
This policy submission argues that traditional rulers should not be treated merely as ceremonial figures or emergency peace negotiators. They should be recognised as strategic partners in conflict prevention, community dialogue, early warning, mediation, reconciliation and social cohesion.
Their participation must, however, complement rather than replace constitutional government, the judiciary and security agencies. Nigeria needs a structured, inclusive and accountable system of traditional institution-led community peacebuilding.
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Traditional rulers can contribute significantly to sustainable peace through conflict prevention, mediation, early warning, community mobilisation, cultural tolerance and post-conflict reconciliation. Their understanding of land ownership, communal boundaries and natural resource arrangements can also help address farmer-herder disputes and other resource-related conflicts.
However, their contributions are sometimes limited by inadequate institutional recognition, political interference, insufficient funding, chieftaincy disputes, weak coordination with security agencies and limited training in modern conflict resolution. The exclusion of women, young people and persons with disabilities from some community decision-making structures also weakens inclusive peacebuilding.
Furthermore, customary dispute resolution must respect constitutional rights and applicable laws. Serious crimes and human rights violations must be referred to appropriate statutory institutions rather than improperly settled through customary mediation.
The objective should therefore not simply be to increase the influence of traditional rulers, but to strengthen their capacity, neutrality, accountability and effectiveness.
POLICY DIRECTION: FROM CEREMONIAL RECOGNITION TO STRATEGIC PEACEBUILDING PARTNERSHIP
Nigeria should adopt a National Traditional Institutions and Community Peacebuilding Framework that formally integrates traditional rulers into existing national, state and local conflict prevention and peacebuilding arrangements.
The framework should promote institutional collaboration, political neutrality, inclusive representation, respect for constitutional authority, community ownership, capacity development and measurable accountability.
Traditional institutions should work with government authorities, security agencies, justice institutions, local governments, religious leaders and civil society organisations to identify emerging conflicts, facilitate dialogue, promote reconciliation and strengthen community stability.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
Recommendation One: Establish a National Traditional Institutions and Community Peacebuilding Framework.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in collaboration with State Governments, traditional institutions, relevant peacebuilding organisations and security agencies, should establish a coordinated framework for integrating traditional rulers into national and subnational peacebuilding structures.
Implementation Strategies:
i. The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, should constitute a National Traditional Institutions and Peacebuilding Policy Committee to review existing arrangements and develop the proposed framework by First Quarter, 2027.
ii. Federal and State Governments should adopt and commence implementation of the framework with clearly defined responsibilities and accountability mechanisms by First Quarter, 2027.
Recommendation Two: Strengthen Community Peace Committees and Early Warning Systems.
State Governments should establish inclusive community peace and conflict resolution committees under traditional institutions and integrate them into coordinated early warning and response systems.
Implementation Strategies:
i. State Ministries responsible for local government and chieftaincy affairs, in collaboration with traditional councils and local government authorities, should establish functional community peace committees ensuring the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and relevant community organisations by First Quarter, 2027.
ii. The Office of the National Security Adviser, security agencies and State Governments should establish communication and reporting channels for identifying emerging conflicts, facilitating timely intervention and conducting quarterly assessments by First Quarter, 2027.
Recommendation Three: Build Capacity and Strengthen Institutional Collaboration.
Federal and State Governments should institutionalise capacity development for traditional rulers and strengthen their collaboration with security agencies, justice institutions and recognised peacebuilding organisations.
Implementation Strategies:
i. The Federal Ministry of Interior, relevant State Ministries, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria and qualified peacebuilding institutions should develop and deliver training programmes in mediation, negotiation, conflict analysis, early warning, reconciliation and inclusive leadership by First Quarter, 2027.
ii. Traditional councils, security agencies, local governments and justice institutions should establish regular coordination meetings and referral procedures within nine months to ensure that disputes requiring formal investigation, prosecution or judicial determination are handled by the appropriate authorities by First Quarter, 2027.
Recommendation Four: Promote Inclusive Peace Education, Reconciliation and Performance Accountability.
Federal and State Governments should support traditional institutions in promoting peace education, inclusive community participation, reconciliation and measurable peacebuilding outcomes.
Implementation Strategies:
i. The Federal Ministry of Education, National Orientation Agency, traditional councils and relevant peacebuilding institutions should organise community peace education, inter-community dialogue and reconciliation programmes, ensuring meaningful participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities by First Quarter, 2027.
ii. Federal and State Governments, in collaboration with traditional councils and research institutions, should introduce measurable peacebuilding indicators and publish annual assessments of community disputes, mediation activities, conflict prevention and reconciliation outcomes by First Quarter, 2027.
CONCLUSION
Traditional rulers remain important institutions in Nigeria’s social and cultural structure. Their historical knowledge, community relationships and proximity to grassroots realities provide opportunities that formal government institutions may not always possess.
However, this potential cannot be maximised through occasional visits, ceremonial consultations or emergency interventions after violence has occurred. Their participation must be deliberate, structured, inclusive and supported by appropriate institutional arrangements.
Sustainable peace requires more than military strength, policing and intelligence gathering. It also requires trusted community leadership, early intervention, dialogue, justice, reconciliation and social cohesion.
Traditional rulers should not be expected to solve every security challenge, nor should their customary authority override constitutional institutions. Their greatest contribution lies in helping communities prevent disputes, manage tensions, restore relationships and develop a culture of peaceful coexistence.
FINAL POLICY MESSAGE
BEYOND THE THRONE: CAN NIGERIA ACHIEVE LASTING PEACE WITHOUT THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF TRADITIONAL RULERS?
The time has come to move beyond ceremonial recognition and embrace strategic collaboration.
Traditional rulers understand the communities they lead. They know their histories, relationships, grievances, cultural values and sources of tension. This knowledge should be transformed into a national asset for conflict prevention and sustainable peace.
Government must provide the institutional framework, security agencies must provide protection, justice institutions must uphold the law, and traditional rulers must contribute their legitimacy, community knowledge and leadership influence to the peacebuilding process.
THE THRONE MUST NOT ONLY COMMAND RESPECT; IT MUST HELP BUILD PEACE.
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE. MORE JUSTICE, MORE PEACE.
A peaceful Nigeria will require strong institutions, responsible traditional leadership and communities empowered to resolve their differences without violence.
REFERENCES
African Union. (2006). African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development. African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Abuja, Nigeria.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2019). National Security Strategy. Office of the National Security Adviser, Abuja, Nigeria.
International Peace Institute. (2013). The Role of Traditional Leaders in Conflict Prevention and Resolution. Relevant peacebuilding and conflict prevention literature.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations General Assembly, A/RES/70/1.
United Nations General Assembly. (2016). Resolution 70/262: Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture. A/RES/70/262.
United Nations Security Council. (2000). Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security. S/RES/1325.
United Nations and World Bank. (2018). Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict. World Bank, Washington, DC.