Conversation about tradition, religion, and state authority in Nigeria. Ntị ọdị kwa?
Abraham Madu
A fresh wave of constitutional debate has emerged in northern Nigeria as the Hausawa Tsantsa Movement publicly distanced the Hausa people from any religious or ethnic political directives attributed to the Sultan of Sokoto, insisting that their allegiance rests solely with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement authored by Hajiya Kaltume Alumbe Jitami under the banner “Mesa Ta Tashi,” the group asserted that the Hausawa, numbering in the tens of millions across the country, are independent citizens under Nigerian law and are not constitutionally bound to obey any traditional authority outside the framework of democratic governance.
The declaration comes amid ongoing national conversations about identity, religious influence, and ethnic representation within Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
Nigeria operates under a constitutional democracy where sovereignty resides in the people. While the office of the Sultan of Sokoto—currently held by Sa'ad Abubakar—remains one of the most revered traditional and religious institutions in the country, the movement emphasized that such authority is moral, historical, and spiritual in character, not executive or legislative in constitutional terms.
According to the statement, no ethnic nationality, including the Hausawa, is legally obligated by any treaty, cultural arrangement, or inherited institution to accept political or religious rulings that fall outside the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution.
The group argued that respect for traditional leadership must not be confused with political subordination in a democratic republic.
The Hausawa people trace their civilizational roots to ancient city-states such as Kano, Katsina, Zaria, and Daura—centers of commerce, scholarship, and governance that flourished long before colonial amalgamation and the formation of the modern Nigerian state.
However, the movement stressed that in contemporary Nigeria, identity in political terms is defined not by pre-colonial structures or inherited thrones, but by citizenship under one sovereign constitutional order.
“The allegiance of every Hausa man and woman,” the statement implied, “is pledged to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constitutional institutions.”
The pronouncement is likely to generate significant debate, particularly in northern Nigeria where traditional institutions play influential cultural roles. Analysts suggest the statement reflects growing awareness among various ethnic groups that constitutional democracy must remain the ultimate authority in matters of governance.
By drawing a clear line between cultural reverence and constitutional power, the Hausawa Tsantsa Movement framed its position as a defense of unity, equality before the law, and the supremacy of democratic institutions.
The group concluded by reaffirming commitment to peaceful coexistence, civic participation, and national sovereignty—while insisting that no throne overrides the will of the people expressed through Nigeria’s constitutional system.
As identity politics and constitutional debates continue to shape public discourse, this declaration may mark a significant moment in the evolving conversation about tradition, religion, and state authority in Nigeria.
Ntị ọdị kwa?
Ya kpọtụba!
Ya gazie.
Ụmụ nne Abrahamụọgụ Aṅụsịobi Madụ.
femi Olajide
Yorubas don't have a dog in that fight nor in any other fight about the Yoruba people's identity and their sovereignty as a people guided by the dictate of Nigerian constitutional democracy.
I don't know why Yoruba has to make a declaration when it's ordinary existence and way of life before, through independence and up to the present day far surpass any form of formal declaration by any or all other ethnic nations in the country.
As the saying goes, Nebu, comot the log in your eyes first before losing sleep over the speck in Yorubas' eyes.
Mend your Igbo house first and declare whatever if it will make all of una life more worthy for you all!
Regards,
Femi Olajide
>>Nigeria operates under a constitutional democracy where sovereignty resides in the people. While the office of the Sultan of Sokoto—currently held by Sa'ad Abubakar—remains one of the most revered traditional and religious institutions in the country, the movement emphasized that such authority is moral, historical, and spiritual in character, not executive or legislative in constitutional terms<< (Hausawa Tsantsa Movement).
A fresh waveof constitutional debate has emerged in northern Nigeria as the Hausawa TsantsaMovement publicly distanced the Hausa people from any religious or ethnicpolitical directives attributed to the Sultan of Sokoto, insisting that theirallegiance rests solely with the Constitution of the Federal Republic ofNigeria.
In astrongly worded statement authored by Hajiya Kaltume Alumbe Jitami under thebanner “Mesa Ta Tashi,” the group asserted that the Hausawa, numbering in thetens of millions across the country, are independent citizens under Nigerianlaw and are not constitutionally bound to obey any traditional authorityoutside the framework of democratic governance.
Thedeclaration comes amid ongoing national conversations about identity, religiousinfluence, and ethnic representation within Nigeria’s evolving democraticlandscape.
Nigeriaoperates under a constitutional democracy where sovereignty resides in thepeople. While the office of the Sultan of Sokoto—currently held by Sa'adAbubakar—remains one of the most revered traditional and religious institutionsin the country, the movement emphasized that such authority is moral,historical, and spiritual in character, not executive or legislative inconstitutional terms.
According tothe statement, no ethnic nationality, including the Hausawa, is legallyobligated by any treaty, cultural arrangement, or inherited institution toaccept political or religious rulings that fall outside the supremacy of theNigerian Constitution.
The groupargued that respect for traditional leadership must not be confused withpolitical subordination in a democratic republic.
The Hausawapeople trace their civilizational roots to ancient city-states such as Kano,Katsina, Zaria, and Daura—centers of commerce, scholarship, and governance thatflourished long before colonial amalgamation and the formation of the modernNigerian state.
However, themovement stressed that in contemporary Nigeria, identity in political terms isdefined not by pre-colonial structures or inherited thrones, but by citizenshipunder one sovereign constitutional order.
“Theallegiance of every Hausa man and woman,” the statement implied, “is pledged tothe Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constitutional institutions.”
Thepronouncement is likely to generate significant debate, particularly innorthern Nigeria where traditional institutions play influential culturalroles. Analysts suggest the statement reflects growing awareness among variousethnic groups that constitutional democracy must remain the ultimate authorityin matters of governance.
By drawing aclear line between cultural reverence and constitutional power, the HausawaTsantsa Movement framed its position as a defense of unity, equality before thelaw, and the supremacy of democratic institutions.
The groupconcluded by reaffirming commitment to peaceful coexistence, civicparticipation, and national sovereignty—while insisting that no throneoverrides the will of the people expressed through Nigeria’s constitutionalsystem.
As identitypolitics and constitutional debates continue to shape public discourse, thisdeclaration may mark a significant moment in the evolving conversation abouttradition, religion, and state authority in Nigeria.
Ntị ọdị kwa?
Ya kpọtụba!
Ya gazie.
Ụmụ nne Abrahamụọgụ Aṅụsịobi Madụ.
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