28/07/2025
When Ignorance Crafts Laws: Why Nigeria Must Elect Intelligent and Informed Senators
By Eneojo Herbert Idakwo
In a country as diverse and historically rich as Nigeria, legislative decisions should be rooted in knowledge, cultural understanding, and constitutional fidelity. Yet, recent developments in the National Assembly have exposed a troubling gap between those entrusted with shaping our national laws and the historical, cultural, and moral compass required for that sacred task.
One of the most glaring illustrations of this legislative shortfall is the 2024 National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, currently under scrutiny. The Bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, a former governor and a respected son of the Middle Belt, includes a clause that has ignited a firestorm of opposition across several regions. At the core of the controversy is the proposal to appoint the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife as permanent co-chairmen of the proposed council.
This move, which has attracted stiff resistance from the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), raises fundamental questions: How can any senator, especially one from the Middle Belt, fail to understand the historical and cultural implications of subordinating centuries-old traditional authorities to a relatively younger, religiously defined institution like the Sokoto Caliphate? What does it say about our legislative class when such a proposal makes it past the first reading, let alone the second?
The Dangers of Historical Amnesia in Lawmaking
Nigeria’s traditional institutions are not mere relics of the past. They are the bedrock of communal identity, custodians of ancient wisdom, and living symbols of Nigeria’s plural heritage. The proposal to permanently elevate the Sultan of Sokoto, a religious figure with deep Islamic significance, above traditional rulers such as the Attah of Igala, the Tor Tiv, the Etsu Nupe, and the Aku Uka of Wukari is not only tone-deaf; it is constitutionally and historically incoherent.
As the Middle Belt Forum rightly pointed out in their powerful press statement, several Middle Belt monarchies predate the Sokoto Caliphate by centuries. For instance, the Kwararafa Confederacy flourished from the 800s to the 1700s. The Igala Kingdom was a major political and military force in West Africa long before the Fulani Jihad of 1804. The Tiv people, the Nupes, and many others maintained distinct cultural and political identities that were never conquered by the Caliphate.
To legislate a permanent leadership role for a religious figure from one tradition over this diverse array of cultural institutions is a grievous assault on Nigeria’s secular and federal character.
Legislative Responsibility Requires Intellectual Capacity
How then did such a proposition find its way into a national bill? The answer lies partly in the quality of representation Nigeria continues to suffer at the Senate level.
Many senators are elected not for their vision, track record, or intellectual depth, but for their political connections, financial muscle, or ethnic affiliation. We must confront this crisis: legislation is not a popularity contest. It is a high-stakes endeavor that demands wisdom, research, and patriotism.
The average Nigerian senator controls billions in constituency funds, wields enormous influence, and sits on committees that shape the destiny of the country. Yet, some of these lawmakers barely understand the constitution, have no grasp of Nigerian history, and cannot articulate or defend the implications of the bills they sponsor.
The Call to Action: A Smarter Electorate
As Nigerians prepare for future elections, particularly the 2027 general elections, it is time for a radical shift in the voter mindset. Senators must no longer be elected based on slogans, handouts, or ethnic sentiments. We must demand competence, character, and clarity of purpose.
Here are three things voters must consider:
1. Track Record of Intellectual Engagement: Has the candidate written, spoken, or engaged in community or national dialogue with depth and insight?
2. Understanding of Nigeria’s Plurality: Does the candidate show respect for Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious makeup, or do they harbor supremacist or revisionist tendencies?
3. Constitutional Fidelity and Historical Awareness: Can the candidate uphold the principles of federalism, secularism, and cultural diversity enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution?
The situation with the Traditional Rulers Bill must be a turning point. If legislators continue to propose laws that distort Nigeria’s historical realities and elevate religious supremacy over cultural harmony, the very fabric of our fragile union will continue to unravel.
Conclusion: Let the Senate Be a Place of Wisdom, Not Folly
The Nigerian Senate must be the home of wisdom, not a playground for ignorance. It must reflect the dignity, diversity, and intellectual caliber worthy of a great nation.
Let it be said that from the Middle Belt to the Niger Delta, from the Igbo heartland to the Yoruba southwest, from the Kanuri northeast to the Fulani northwest, Nigeria rose up and rejected the tyranny of mediocrity.
Our senators must be thinkers, not stooges; patriots, not puppets; bridge-builders, not dividers. And we, the people, hold the power to make that happen, at the ballot box.
Eneojo Herbert Idakwo is a journalist, cultural historian, and public affairs analyst. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
