IGBO COMMUNITY IN FCT VOWS TO RESIST BILL SEEKING TO ELEVATE SULTAN, OONI
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The Igbo Community Association (ICA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has joined the growing opposition to a bill currently before the Senate that seeks to permanently designate the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as the sole Co-Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.
As reported by the media, the bill—which has already passed its second reading in the Senate—has sparked widespread criticism, with groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle-Belt Forum voicing strong objections.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, President General of ICA, and Mr. Mazi Emmanuel Onah, Secretary General, the association firmly declared its intention to resist the bill.
In its statement, the Igbo Community Association (ICA) warned that the proposed bill could spark ethnic and social unrest across the country.
Describing the bill as “insensitive to Nigeria’s ethnic diversity,” the group urged the National Assembly to reconsider its stance and withdraw the proposal.
“The leadership of the National Assembly must reflect carefully and avoid dragging Nigeria back to an era of institutionalized discrimination and state-sponsored marginalization,” the statement read.
The ICA stressed its strong opposition, declaring: “We, the Igbo, will resist this. We will stand with all well-meaning ethnic groups to oppose this blatant disregard for other nationalities in Nigeria.”
The group argued that the Sultan of Sokoto is primarily a religious leader, not a traditional ruler in the general sense. “The Kanuri people are not under the traditional authority of either the Ooni of Ife or the Sultan of Sokoto nor are all the Igbo. The same applies to the diverse ethnic groups across the North Central and South-South regions,” the statement added.
The ICA cautioned that Nigeria is still healing from past divisions and warned the National Assembly not to reignite old wounds.
“This great country is home to three major ethnic groups Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. The National Assembly must acknowledge and respect this reality,” the group said.
They concluded by demanding equal representation: “We call for the three major tribes to be represented as Chairmen of the National Traditional Rulers Council, and we urge lawmakers to speak out against this looming injustice.”
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