OUR TRADITIONAL RULERS

As of 2022, Nigeria's population was estimated at around 216.7 million. There are many indigenous tribes scattered around the country. Also there are different languages, customs and traditions. Outstanding languages among others that are spoken in my country includes English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Efik.

Religion
Nigeria practices freedom of worship. Christians believe in God the creator, while Muslims believe in the existence of Allah. Still others practice African Tradition type of religion where they believe in Karma (whatsoever you do will come back to you sharply).

Food
Oh in Nigeria there's so many kinds of food. Are you a visitor or a foreigner? Please try these yummy delicacies like Nigerian fried rice, chicken pepper soup, Fufu or Amala with melon soup. Ora, ogbono, ofe nsala, editang and orikoinko soups, etc.

One of the many sweet local foods in Nigerian. Okro soup. https://unsplash.com/

Tourist Attractions
Such places like Zuma Rock of Abuja, Azumiri blue river, Obudu mountain resort, etc gives people a thrilling sights and wonders.

One of the many tourist attractions in Nigeria. Zuma Rock. Photos from https://unsplash.com/

Our traditional rulers
My point of writing this episode is about our rulers. In the past, various places in Nigeria were ruled by leaders whom they loved, adore and respected even looking to some as god's. Yorubas call their leaders oba, Efiks are called obong while Hausas call theirs alafin, saki or emir. Then Igbo leaders are known as ezes.

My source of pictures is taken from Apex English Limited by Ayodeji Timothy.

Each town has a unique way of choosing its leaders from the ruling families and according to their customs and traditions. All rulers live in palace. They wore distinctive apparels or regalia, with crowns on their heads, staff of office in their hands with different colors of beads on their necks.

Their work?
Traditional rulers maintain law and order. Look out for the welfare of it's citizens. They bring dividends from government to the local people. Making sure that such things as good roads, electrification, water, education etc are given to the rural dwellers.

A case in point is what happened in my community (Ohafia LGA) last two years, it was an igwe (a traditional ruler) of my clan that helped in securing pipe-born water and a gigantic community hall for us all. All us of were happy. In short, I love and respect our traditional rulers and the different ROLES they play in our different communities. Thanks for reading.