African Traditional Rulers Seek More Active Roles In Governments

Posted on November 23, 2019

TAIWO ADELU

His Majesty Dada Awiyan Kokpon Houdegbe, Prof. Octave Cossi Houdegbe, President of Pan African Council of Traditional and Customary Authorities (PACTCA)

Traditional rulers in Africa under the aegis of Pan African Council of Traditional and Customary Authorities (PACTCA) have said that good governance cannot be achieved in the modern day Africa if traditional institution is being relegated to the background.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that PACTCA is a body of guardians of African traditions with global vision of promoting African values and cultures

To PACTCA, the advent of colonialism had done irreparable damages to the socio-cultural and political life of African people,

“Even when we had independent across countries in Africa, our indigenous leaders were even the worst than the colonial masters. What we saw was our culture and revered traditional institution being neglected and suffered even in the hands of our sons and daughters who hold political posts across countries in Africa,” said His Majesty Dada Awiyan Kokpon Houdegbe, Prof. Octave Cossi Houdegbe who is the President of PACTCA in Benin Republic.

His Majesty Dada Awiyan Kokpon Houdegbe was speaking recently during a meeting of PACTCA where many traditional rulers from different countries in Africa converged at Houdegbe’s Palace in Cotonou to honour the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya with an award tagged BAOBA (Grand Award for the Rallying, Dialogue and Promoting Peace in Africa).

Speaking on behalf of all other kings and chiefs, Prof. Houdegbe noted that the idea behind PACTCA is to bring all traditional institutions in Africa under one umbrella so that they can fight and take stand on common problems with one voice.

“While the colonial masters came to Africa to destroy our traditional and cultural heritages, we found it difficult to believe that even after the colonial masters have long gone, the political class in the present days Africa is not helping matter as it fails to recognise the important roles the traditional institution should be playing in governance on the continent.

“The time has come for the African traditional institution to react to this neglect because if we don’t react, it will continue. Before the colonial masters came to Africa, there were kingdoms with quality administrative establishments, but when the whites came in things turned upside down. Worst hit were the French colonies where the colonial masters said they did not want to see any traditional structures, instead they ruled directly. In the British colonies, however, they ruled through the establishments of the kings. So you can see the difference between what we had in the French speaking countries and the British colonies.

“What really gave birth to Pan African Council of Traditional and Customary Authorities was the neglect and the failure of governments in Africa to give traditional rulers specific roles to play in governance on the continent. We are not happy that kings are not given the right to participate in the administration and running of governments. We want to tell our governments across Africa that they should not abandon the traditional institutions.

“It’s rather so unfortunate that after independence, we believe that after we have voted for our sons and daughters to take control of the government, they would correct the mistakes made by the white colonial masters, The contrary was the case as the case even getting worse; we are not given chance to participate in the polity.

“What explanation can you give a situation when somebody that steal a goat is taking to the court when we have kings within the community who can dispense justice as they are the one who know what is happening in the neighbourhoods. It was so sad that after independence, we thought and we all believed that our sons and daughter we voted for will look towards the traditional institutions in the running of governments in Africa. No president or head of state wanted to collaborate with the traditional institutions. In PACTCA, we believe we must participate actively in the ruling of our people. We will fight it until we achieve our aim. This is the time the elected rulers should look back and give specific roles to the kings to participate in the ruling of our countries. We are not taking their place in government; we are only asking that they should give traditional rulers roles to play in the governments.

“Look at the conflict between Nigeria and Benin Republic that resulted in Nigeria closing her borders. I believe if the kings in Benin come together to talk to their president after which they liaise with kings in their Nigeria, don’t you think that the problem would have been solved by now?

“I am proud to say we see in the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, a leader who respect the traditional institution in his country and he has been able to cultivate peace by bringing together English speaking tribes and the French speaking people in Cameroon. This is a laudable achievement. This is the reason we are giving the Cameroonian president an award titled BAOBA award meaning “Grand Award for the Rallying, Dialogue and Promoting Peace in Africa.”

“We want to celebrate Paul Biya for exhibiting rare human and moral values that have guided him to steer the ship of his Nation peacefully in the last 37 years.

“We saw Paul Biya as a man who after 37 years, against all odds, defying crisis and obstacles of all kinds, but also enjoying the numerous victories which embellished his exceptional achievements, in a style which is particular to him made up of unfathomable phlegm and soft firmness, continues to lead his people towards a certainly radiant future,” said Prof . Octave Cossi Houdegbe, who is the founder/Chancellor of the famous Houdegbe University, Cotonou, Benin Republic.