THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY CHALLENGES: A FOCUS ON THE MURI EMIRATE COUNCIL, TARABA STATE

Abstract

This article examined the role of traditional institution in the management of security challenges: a focus on the Muri Emirate Council, Taraba State, Nigeria is passing through a turbulent time in terms of security largely because of the insecurity that is bedevilling the country. There are off-course other aspects of security threats that may not be seen on top headline of our national dailies but they are
indeed life threatening. The successive governments have adopted several measures to resolve the threat to the wellbeing of the most populous black nation but the stick and carrot principles as proposed by many did not seem to have yielded the desired result. Thus it is expedient to explore many more options among which are the involvements of traditional rulers. Findings showed that Traditional rulers play an important role in the society by advising the elected leaders in different areas, these include; economic policy, security issues, equal sharing of goods and services, recommending aspirants for elections or appointment to serve the community, demand for good governance and general wellbeing of the people among others. Before traditional institutions use religion power to settle disputes among the citizens as well as married couples in the society, it also uses religious sanctions in resolving issues related to land disputes among the people in their respective societies, and issues like robbery, and disputes between neighbors in the societies. The
paper recommended that traditional rulers should be given full independence and should be well connected into Nigeria democratic process, this would encourage them to contribute in no small measure to the social and economic development. The study further recommended that democratization of the states along traditional organization would help in enhancing economic development that would enhance the living standard of the citizens. The specific roles and the yearning gap of the traditional institution’s contribution in land conflict and resolution was acknowledged.