Nigerian monarchs have fallen off the ladder of deference in the current political arrangement. They have been stripped of their god-like status and today they are being subjected to public ridicule by public servants who possess real political power.
Pre-colonization, monarchs in Nigeria and other African nations enjoyed absolute powers: they superintended over the affairs of their people with the assistance of chief councils. Their powers were not constitutional but cultural, derived from the ancestral and spiritual authorities of the kingdoms they ruled over. In the Yoruba-dominated southwestern region of Nigeria, monarchs are referred to as ‘Igbákejì Òrìṣà’—‘second only to the gods’. Today, it is mere praise; a traditional ruler is subservient not only to a state governor but even a local government chairman.
In September 2023, many Nigerians were surprised by a viral video of former military head of state and two-term democratic president, Olusegun Obasanjo, dishing out orders to traditional rulers at a public function. ‘Stand up…sit down’, he roared at the monarchs who could only hide their obvious displeasure in their royal regalia as they obeyed him. They stood and sat while the former military leader nodded in satisfaction...
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