Southern Kaduna Elders Demand Repeal of Contentious Traditional Institution Law
A significant political and social battle is intensifying in Kaduna State as elders and stakeholders from Southern Kaduna are relentlessly pushing for Governor Uba Sani to repeal the highly controversial Kaduna State Traditional Institution Law, 2021. This law, enacted by the previous administration of Nasir El-Rufai, has been a source of deep-seated grievances, particularly among Christian-majority communities.
The Controversial Law and its Impact
The 2021 law fundamentally altered the structure of traditional leadership in various communities across the state, notably replacing traditional titles with "Emirates" in many Christian-majority areas. This move has sparked widespread outcry, with critics vehemently accusing it of being discriminatory and an attempt to marginalize indigenous communities.
Leaders from the affected communities have emphatically denied claims that they ever requested these changes, asserting that the law was imposed on them. They argue that it has fragmented long-established chiefdoms and led to the reclassification and demotion of several traditional rulers in Southern Kaduna, thereby weakening their authority and instilling fear among their people.
The Southern Kaduna Leaders Council (SKLC) has been particularly vocal, calling the law a continuation and intensification of "unjust and unpopular restructuring of traditional institutions" that began in 2017. They allege that the law aims to "subordinate, suppress and relegate non-Muslim traditional rulers to a permanent weak and inferior position," and even to "facilitate the implanting of other peoples to rule over Adara people and take over Adara land."
Calls for Reversal and Justice
The demand for repeal is a key component of broader calls for justice in Southern Kaduna, with groups urging Governor Uba Sani to revert traditional institutions in the state to their 2015 status quo – essentially undoing the changes implemented by the El-Rufai government.
Activists and community leaders emphasize that the law has created social injustice, communal frictions, and disharmony, hindering development in affected areas. They are urging Governor Sani, who has reportedly shown efforts towards creating a more inclusive government, to urgently consider the repeal.
It's worth noting that legal challenges have also been mounted against aspects of the 2021 law. For instance, in August 2023, a Kaduna State High Court set aside the restriction of movement placed on a deposed traditional ruler, ruling that a section of the 2021 law inconsistent with constitutional rights. Similarly, an Industrial Court nullified the removal of another traditional ruler, ordering his reinstatement, further highlighting the legal complexities surrounding the law's implementation.
The ongoing calls for the repeal of the Traditional Institution Law represent a significant test for the current administration in Kaduna State as it grapples with addressing the lingering grievances and fostering unity among diverse communities.
