In a visionary call for unity and progress, the esteemed Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, has highlighted the crucial role traditional institutions must play in addressing Nigeria’s pressing insecurity challenges.

As the revered monarch and 13th Asagba of Asaba prepares to celebrate his centenary birth anniversary, he articulated a compelling vision for a harmonious nation, emphasizing the need for the integration of the traditional institution into the fabric of governance.

In a pre-anniversary conversation, HRM Obi Edozien expressed deep concern over the prevailing insecurity issues that have gripped Nigeria, asserting that sustainable solutions to these challenges might remain elusive until traditional institutions become an integral part of the nation’s governance structure.

The monarch called for a comprehensive review and amendment of the Constitution to usher in a new era where traditional rulers are seamlessly integrated into the Local Government structure.

While recalling the colonial history of Nigeria, the monarch lamented that traditional rulers were left out of the formal governance architecture after politicians took over from the colonialists; a situation which has caused impediments to the nation’s development.

‘’I think that the problem of insecurity cannot be solved until the Constitution merges the constitutional local government and the peoples’ local government (traditional institution). Then, the people will see development.

‘’I believe that if the principle of indirect rule was reintroduced, the traditional system would identify the rebels because they are part of the local communities and the challenges of insecurity will be solved permanently. But this lies in the recognition of the traditional institution as the true local government of Nigeria’’ he said.

Similarly, HRM Obi Edozien lamented the growing suspicion and tensions among ethnic groups, stressing that such proclivities, which should not be an issue, existed to serve the narrow interests of certain individuals.

‘’Many people use the ethnic issue to their advantage’’ the monarch said, even as he recalled his experience as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ibadan where he witnessed the undercurrents of ethnic conflicts.

‘’this is a very strong feeling in the hearts and minds of many people. How we are going to cure it is difficult to say. One solution is to give autonomy to the different nations that make up Nigeria; if they can cooperate in the way that the European Union is doing, maybe we can reduce the tension. It is a very serious matter’’ he said.

The monarch further suggested the creation of a department or faculty of nation-building in Nigerian universities to study and understand ethnic relations to effectively address frictions that arise in such multifaceted interactions.