The monarch who spoke at a meeting with the Steering Committee of the Senate Constitution Review Committee on Thursday, March 11, said Ironsi’s 1966 Unitary Government Decree, Gowon’s 1967 and Obasanjo’s 1976 Local Government Reforms Decrees stripped traditional rulers of their powers and gave the same to the local government councils.

He said “All the respective levels of governments needed them to maintain peace and security as traditional rulers were always at hand to douse conflict that the police, the military and the government officials could not contain. Currently, traditional rulers do not have the constitutional or other legal backings to perform effectively as they’re not even mentioned in the 1999 constitution. This is a great departure from all earlier constitutions that recognized them, and even gave them some functions to perform. Indeed, all the Nigerian earlier constitutions gave the chairmen of the State Councils of Chiefs seats in the National Council of State alongside former Presidents and Chief Justices. The constitutional provision should provide for states to enact state laws that cater to specific peculiar matters relating to traditional rulers in the respective states. In addition, the chairmen of the State Councils of Chiefs should be recognised by the constitution as members of the Council of State as it has been in all the Nigerian constitutions, except the 1999 one.”

The National Coordinator, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, in a statement said: “The programme is in obedience to the commandment of God as revealed in a vision during seven days praying and fasting programme embarked upon by members of the SNPI to make Nigeria great.

“Eight delegates, comprising of four Muslims and four Christians are expected from each of the 774 local governments’ areas of the federation.”

Furthermore, the group disclosed that the national programme will hold at the National Ecumenical Centre and National Mosque in Abuja simultaneously in October. It urged all patriotic Nigerians to join the prayer session in bid to make the country great again.

Dignitaries expected at the event include, General Gowon; the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye; Dr. Oloyede Abdulraman, Chief Imam, University of Ibadan and host of others.