The Abasi People Foundation (APF) has rejected the proposed Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, describing the initiative as historically insensitive, politically exclusionary and structurally defective.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja and signed by its President, Dr. Victor Udo, the Foundation declared its opposition to the formation of the council and expressed solidarity with Igbo traditional rulers under the leadership of Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State.
The APF argued that the establishment of a regional traditional body without comprehensive democratic consultation and equitable representation of indigenous nationalities risks perpetuating patterns of marginalisation that have characterised aspects of Nigeria’s political development since the colonial era.
The group rooted its objections in what it termed the “unresolved contradictions” of the 1914 amalgamation, when the British colonial administration merged the Northern and Southern Protectorates into a single political entity. According to the Foundation, the arrangement prioritised administrative convenience over ethnic autonomy, creating structural imbalances that continue to influence governance and representation.
It further noted that post-independence constitutional experiments — from the regional framework of the First Republic to the more centralised federal system that emerged after prolonged military rule — have struggled to equitably accommodate Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
“The architecture of amalgamation created artificial divisions and entrenched central dominance,” the statement said. “More than a century later, the same logic must not be allowed to redefine southern identity through exclusionary frameworks.”
The Foundation emphasised that the Abasi people — comprising the Ibibio, Annang, Oro, Efik, Obolo, Eket, Ekoi and related communities — constitute a historically rooted nationality with a shared cultural heritage and distinct identity within Nigeria’s southern region.
It maintained that any regional traditional council would lack legitimacy if it sidelines indigenous populations or imposes hierarchical arrangements inconsistent with the principle of equality.
“Unity cannot be legislated through selective inclusion,” the group stated. “Any structure that reproduces historical marginalisation under the guise of regional integration undermines its moral and civic authority.”
The APF called for the immediate suspension of steps toward constituting the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council unless mechanisms are put in place to guarantee full democratic participation and equal representation for both the Abasi and Igbo nationalities.
Beyond the immediate controversy, the Foundation advocated renewed national dialogue on Nigeria’s political future, urging consideration of a confederal system that would grant ethnic nationalities greater autonomy within a shared sovereign framework.
According to the group, Nigeria’s long-term stability depends on recognising all constituent peoples — including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Abasian, Kanuri, Ijaw, Fulani, Nupe, Jukun, Tiv and Bini — as co-equal stakeholders in governance.
Political analysts say the Foundation’s position reflects broader national conversations around federal restructuring, regional identity and the evolving role of traditional institutions in contemporary governance.
The APF warned that national cohesion cannot be sustained on exclusionary foundations.
“Justice demands representation, peace requires equality, and development begins with dignity,” the statement added, indicating that debates over regional structures may intensify as constitutional reform discussions re-emerge on the national agenda.
