Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
In a passionate address, Justice Mohammed Lawal Gummi (Rtd.), Deputy Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, has called for the constitutional reinstatement of powers and responsibilities to Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
Speaking at a public hearing on the constitutional review process in Sokoto on Saturday, Justice Gummi underscored the enduring importance of traditional rulers in governance, peacekeeping, and national security.
Justice Gummi reminded attendees that Nigeria’s traditional institutions were fully functional systems of governance long before colonialism.
“When the British arrived, they met a working system of legislature, judiciary, and governance led by traditional rulers,” he said, emphasizing that these institutions were not symbolic, but instrumental in maintaining order, justice, and community development.
He referenced the historical expulsion of religious extremist Muhammad Marwa Maitatsine by Emir Mohammed Sanusi I as a testament to the proactive role traditional rulers once played.
However, Maitatsine’s return in 1979 under a democratic government, Gummi noted, unleashed a wave of religious violence that could have been avoided had traditional authorities retained their powers.
“You are all witnesses to the destruction caused by the Maitatsine sect.
“That tragedy illustrates what happens when traditional rulers are excluded from security and governance,” he said.
Justice Gummi further highlighted the southern Kaduna experience, which he said enjoyed relative peace under the leadership of the Emir of Zazzau.
Following the 1976 Local Government Reforms that removed security oversight from traditional rulers, he said, the region descended into frequent communal clashes.
“The contrast is clear,” he stressed.
“Where traditional rulers managed local security, there was peace. When that role was stripped away, conflict followed. The government must face this reality.”
Gummi argued that Nigeria’s growing insecurity and rising communal tensions are closely linked to the marginalization of traditional institutions.
He called for constitutional recognition that would define and protect the role of traditional rulers, particularly in matters of local security.
“Restoring their authority is not a symbolic gesture.
“It’s a practical move that can rebuild public trust and help curb violence, especially in fragile communities,” he asserted
He also decried the current funding model, where traditional institutions receive just five percent of state revenues, calling it both inconsistent and inadequate.
Gummi demanded a guaranteed minimum of ten percent, saying this would enhance their ability to govern, mediate disputes, and lead local development efforts.
“Traditional rulers are closest to the people.
“They know their communities more intimately than any politician or bureaucrat ever could. That local knowledge is invaluable in any effective governance system,” he said.
Justice Gummi concluded with a stark warning: unless Nigeria amends its constitution to reintegrate traditional rulers into formal governance and security structures, the country risks further instability and disintegration.
“Our current structures are failing.
“We must act decisively. The time to restore the authority, dignity, and responsibility of traditional rulers is now—for the sake of national unity and lasting peace,” he said.
