Traditional Authority in Crisis: Succession Disputes and Their Impact on Governance and Social Stability in Nigeria

Abstract

In most of the African societies, especially in Nigeria, kingship is still a source of traditional governance and the monarchs are considered as the custodians of the culture, peace keepers during times of conflict and as a symbol of community identity. Although it is sacred, the practice of crowning kings is usually full of conflict, wrangles and politics. In this paper, the conflict and appointment in kingship is analyzed on a theoretical basis without pinpointing the case scenarios, and rather the paper uses the well-known frames of political anthropology, structural functionalism, and conflict theory. These views provide a hint on the symbolic, political and social aspects of succession to kingship which is the mode of building and the contest of legitimacy. It examines the role of rituals, lineage and normative expectation in the appointment process and how the failure to live up to this expectation can bring instability. It also takes into account the place of external forces like colonial and contemporary intervention of states in the transformations of traditional structures of authority. Through theory, the paper will give a generalized perception of the dynamics of kingship that can be utilized in different settings. Finally, the paper supports a moderate strategy to the issue of Kingship succession one that acknowledges cultural practices but introduces some measures that will enable transparency, accountability and conflict resolution mechanism. This is needed to maintain the integrity of the traditional institutions and keep them relevant in the modern governance.