Hope Uzodimma Calls for Constitutional Recognition of Traditional Rulers’ Roles

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has renewed calls for the constitutional recognition of traditional rulers in Nigeria, stressing that their contributions to peace, governance, and community stability deserve formal backing in the nation’s legal framework.

Speaking in Lagos on Monday at the meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Uzodimma said the demand for constitutional roles was not about privilege but about providing clarity and legitimacy to the responsibilities traditional rulers already perform.

“The time has come to make it right — not necessarily by creating a new role, but by giving legal status to what already exists,” the governor said.

He described the theme of the meeting — “The Traditional Institution: The Imperative of Its Inclusion in Effective and Efficient Governance in Nigeria” — as both timely and necessary, reflecting the reality that traditional rulers play vital roles in maintaining stability, cohesion, and governance across communities.

Uzodimma argued that the lack of constitutional recognition represents a critical gap in Nigeria’s governance structure. He noted that traditional leaders have historically been key figures in peace mediation, conflict resolution, and cultural preservation, and therefore deserve respect and empowerment through legal reform.

“The absence of a constitutional role for traditional rulers is a gap that ought to be filled,” he said. “It is a failure that should be immediately rectified.”

The governor urged traditional rulers to remain non-partisan, emphasizing that neutrality was essential to maintaining their integrity and moral authority, especially in political matters.

Reflecting on their influential roles during the First Republic and citing similar recognition in other African countries, Uzodimma pledged full support for any legislative or executive effort to formalize the institution’s place in the constitution.

“I assure you that if this matter comes before the National Assembly or requires support at any level of government, I will stand with you without hesitation,” he declared.

Uzodimma also commended the large turnout of monarchs at the meeting, affirming that Nigeria’s traditional institution remains “alive, strong, and ready to lead where it must.”

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