Role Of Traditional Rulers In Maintaining Peace And Security

This study was carried out on the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and security using Okat community in Onna local government of Akwa Ibom State as a case study. determine whether traditional rulers are obliged by their statutory roles to ensure peace and security of the community, ascertain the areas traditional rulers ensures peace and security in the community, ascertain the effectiveness of traditional rulers in maintenance peace and security in Okat community, find out whether deficiency of the traditional rulers poses a limitation in their effort to ensure peace and security in Okat community, and find out whether lack of constitutional power poses a limitation to the effort of of the traditional rulers in ensuring peace and security in Okat community. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised residents in Okat community in Onna local government of Akwa Ibom State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 147 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, and mean scores. The hypotheses was tested using Chi-square Statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the areas traditional rulers ensures peace and security in the community includes: cohabitation, inheritance, adoption, injustice, land tenure issues, insecurity. The study also revealed that lack of constitutional power poses a limitation to the effort of of the traditional rulers in ensuring peace and security in Okat community. Therefore, it is recommended that traditional institutions be repositioned to assume their roles and responsibilities, in partnership with formal legal institutions of the state, in the management of conflicts in the rural communities. To mention but a few.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

It is important to concede that the area of the study has attracted the minds of various scholars and researchers. Yet it is the concern of this study to examine and relate such research endeavors on traditional authority to the contemporary security challenges in Nigeria. The exact nature and patterns of governance-cum, socio-economic inter-relationship between the traditional rulers and contemporary security situations will improve our understanding of the criminal justice system specifically in resolving issues of socio-political insecurity and religious conflicts thereby restoring social order, peace, harmony and stability. The general objective of the paper is to examine the role of traditional rulers in security administration from pre 1804 period, 1804-1903, 1903-1960 and 1960 and beyond; identify the structures, institutions as well as social changes on contemporary security in Nigeria. This is done by comparing roles of leadership of traditional rulers. The study will significantly contribute towards research efforts to dispute the claim. The findings of this research hopefully will put the roles and legacies of the traditional rulers into proper perspective to bear on the contemporary security situation/matter in Nigeria.

Security as a basic human need is important to the individual community. According to Alemika (2015) security is a contested concept, it means different things to different people and it also a contested practice, security for a group may constitute insecurity for another group. Therefore, security raises ontological debates about its nature and scope. Is there such a thing as security? There are two perspectives on the ontology or reality of security. The first perspective argues that security depicts a reality, a feeling and a condition. The second perspective conceives security as a label attached to a condition that someone considers undeniable. Balogun (2004:1) observed that man‟s primary and engaging concern has been that of survival and protection; from the vagaries of nature, natural disasters and from the ill-intentions and misdeeds of his fellow man community.

By traditional institutions, it refers to the indigenous political system or arrangements whereby leaders with proven track of records are nominated, appointed and installed in accordance with the provisions of their native laws and customs (Malami, 1978, Orji and Olali, 2010). The essence of the institutions is to preserve the customs, traditions and cultural heritage of the people and manage conflicts and violence arising among or between members of the community by the instrumentality of laws and customs of the people.

In our day to day language we often hear the word traditional rulers in our society. The concept refers to the indigenous arrangements whereby leaders or persons by virtue of heredity or people with proven track records are nominated, appointed and installed in line with the provisions of their native laws and customs. The essence of the institution is to preserve the tradition, the customs, cultural heritage of the people and to manage, settle and resolve disputes/conflict arising within or between members of the community by the instrumentality of laws and customs of the people in that particular community or society. Generally, they are seen and referred to as the custodians of their people‟s norms, cultural values and practices. Adding on conceptual clarifications, Malami (1978:11) has identified three categories of traditional title holders that derive their titles from and through the traditions of the people, although the traditions vary from time, place and depth of cultural roots.

Firstly, those holding literally honorific titles, conferred on them by superior traditional rulers in recognition and appreciation of the service rendered to the society. This category has no schedules or specific functions seen as a good chain of information and agents of conscientizing or mobilizing people when the need arises. The second category are holders of titles or positions due to recent recognition or creation of such titles.

In contrast to the above, they may have executive functions but restricted by the same laws that created them or gave them recognition. The last category is full time executive traditional title holders who perform executive functions from traditions largely rooted, revered and recognized and exercise their executive functions
Traditional rulers hold the key to the success or failure in security administration in Nigeria because they operate at the grassroots of the society and interact closely with people in their daily activities consequent upon which they are highly respected. Abdullahi (2008) noted;

Community based approach as opinion leaders‟ traditional authority are first stakeholders if they do not back opinion will face problem as they are closer always in contact with people.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite the predictions in the 1960s that this type of traditional ruler would dissapear, they have persisted and flourished in Nigeria. This multiplication of traditional authorities continues to flourish is in sharp contrast to other regions of Africa, where such systems have tended to wither away, especially when net rooted in the long- term social structures of the peoples over whom they were set to rule from the point of view of the colonial authorities, supporting traditional authorities, supporting traditional governance was a convenient and cheap method if both maintaining order and collecting tax with limited resources. Hence their is need to evaluate the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and harmony in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main aim of this study is to examine the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and security. Other aims of this study are:

To determine whether traditional rulers are obliged by their statutory roles to ensure peace and security of the community.

To ascertain the areas traditional rulers ensures peace and security in the community.

To ascertain the effectiveness of traditional rulers in maintenance peace and security in Okat community.

To find out whether deficiency of the traditional rulers poses a limitation in their effort to ensure peace and security in Okat community.

To find out whether lack of constitutional power poses a limitation to the effort of of the traditional rulers in ensuring peace and security in Okat community.

1.4 Research Question

Are traditional rulers obliged by their statutory roles to ensure peace and security of the community?

What are the areas traditional rulers ensures peace and security in the community?

Are there effectiveness of traditional rulers in maintenance peace and security in Okat community?

Does deficiency of the traditional rulers poses a limitation in their effort to ensure peace and security in Okat community?

Does lack of constitutional power poses a limitation to the effort of of the traditional rulers in ensuring peace and security in Okat community?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: Traditional rulers do not play any significant effective role in peace and security maintenance in Okat community.

Ha: Traditional rulers plays a significant effective role in peace and security maintenance in Okat community.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will show the roles the traditional rulers have to play in maintaining peace and security.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and security. Specifically, it focuses on determining whether traditional rulers are obliged by their statutory roles to ensure peace and security of the community, ascertaining the areas traditional rulers ensures peace and security in the community, ascertaining the effectiveness of traditional rulers in maintenance peace and security in Okat community, finding out whether deficiency of the traditional rulers poses a limitation in their effort to ensure peace and security in Okat community, and finding out whether lack of constitutional power poses a limitation to the effort of of the traditional rulers in ensuring peace and security in Okat community. The respondents for this study will be obtained from Okat community in Onna local government of Akwa Ibom State.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Traditional Rulers:

Often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to command respect from their people and have considerable influence.

1.10 Organization of the Studies

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

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