Aboriginal Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom of Niger Delta in the Framework of its Primordial House System of Governance and Natural Law towards Sustainable Development in the Kingdom (Published)
The Primordial House System of Governance of Primaeval Niger Delta’s Bonny Kingdom, enhanced by natural law, features as the bedrock of the civilization and good governance (GG) in the Kingdom. The Primordial House System of Governance of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom (Ibanise), which is comprised of present-day Bonny Kingdom and Opobo Kingdom, was originated and institutionalized by the Founding Ancestors of the Ancient Kingdom, led by three hierarchical categories of paramount natural rulers of the three tiers of government of the Kingdom, during the Kingdom’s aboriginal era. The hierarchical categories are Ikpangi-Sibidapu (Institutionalized Lineage Heads), Amadapu (Community/District Heads and thus helpmates to Kings/Monarchs [Amanyanapu]), and Amanyanabo (owner of the land/King). The posts, positions or offices of these hierarchical categories, which have been in existence from time immemorial in Bonny Kingdom, are those of honour, traditional public service, trust, social responsibility and statesmanship, which were originated, systematized and institutionalized by the Founding Ancestors of the Kingdom towards the wellbeing of the people, Houses and entire Kingdom. This study employs socio-legal methodology to examine the Primordial House System of Bonny Kingdom and the role of natural law, namely proto-natural law, during the aboriginal era of the Kingdom, before Opobo Kingdom was established from it parent Bonny Kingdom, during the Kingdom’s Civil War of 1869/70. It discusses the premier natural rulers of aboriginal Bonny Kingdom, as well as four generations of Okoloama Ingie KiriFajie, namely Bonny Kingdom (Ibanise), comprised of Fourteen Lineages/Families/Houses. On this note, from a historiographical background, the study makes a case for GG, fair play, social justice and harmonious ways of life in Bonny Kingdom, based on the good, transparent, responsible and accountable stewardship of traditional rulers, towards the wellbeing of the people and sustainable development of the Kingdom, particularly in the realm of apex, peak or paramount traditional rulership of the three tiers of government of the Kingdom, namely the Lineage, Country-House and overall Kingdom-wide tiers of traditional governance in the Kingdom. Besides, this study demonstrates how the aboriginal era of Bonny Kingdom underscores the Kingdom as a classic African primordial sovereign state and civilization, as well as a pride of Ancestral Ijaw nation, which contributed to the development and advancement of Primaeval Niger Delta region and beyond.
Citation: Edward T. Bristol-Alagbariya (2022) Aboriginal Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom of Niger Delta in the Framework of its Primordial House System of Governance and Natural Law towards Sustainable Development in the Kingdom, Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, Vol.10, No.3, pp.1-32
Keywords: Aboriginal Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, Bonny Kingdom, Duawaris, Good Governance, Natural Law, Niger Delta Region, Opuwaris, Primordial House System of Governance, Sustainable Development, Wellbeing
Fiscal Federalism, Resource Control, and Restructuring in Nigeria: The Contending Issues (Published)
The dynamism and complexity of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism have occupied the front burner of academic and political discourse since the return to democratic rule. The discussion on Nigeria’s fiscal practice became necessary because it has created several crises threatening the continued existence and continuity of the Nigerian state. The desertion of true federalism in Nigeria has led to the neglect and marginalization of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where the country generates the bulk of its wealth through oil and gas exploration and exploitation. The Niger Delta region oil-producing states have been very vocal in their agitations for a fair share of the country’s wealth by the restructuring of the parameters for sharing and allocating the wealth of the nation located within their region. The agitations for resource control, it is believed, would make more resources available to the various states to ensure economic and social development. The protests have arisen for the reason that a more substantial portion of the nation’s wealth goes to the federal government at the detriment of the oil-producing states. The Nigerian federal government is yet to make any significant attempt to alter the status quo. No constitutional amendment is has been made to ensure the practice of true fiscal federalism in the country. This paper examined the debate and concept of fiscal federalism. It explores revenue allocation formula in Nigeria and the statutory role of revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission, the quest for resource control and Nigeria’s federalism, dimensions of resource control agitations by the Niger Delta region, and causes of the Niger Delta crisis. The paper concludes with some profound recommendations on the way forward.
Keywords: Fiscal federalism, Niger Delta Region, Nigeria, Restructuring, resource control, revenue allocation formula