THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN SOCIO POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN NIGERIA

The study aims at examining the role of traditional rulers in socio political and economic development of local government area in Nigeria. In spite of the negative impacts of colonialism and westernization on the institutions in pre-colonial period, traditional rulers occupied important position of political authority in African kingdom. The traditional rulers have served as important adjuncts in the administration of post-colonial government in both Nigeria and Africa. Towards the last years of colonial rule, there was a shift from the traditional rulers to the educated elites who eventually succeeded in achieving political independence for the country. This research is of the view that traditional rulers as the custodian of the customs and traditions of their respective areas should be given opportunities on a basis of recommending some of their experiences to the service as members of customary courts; also, traditional rulers have to adopt the spirit of yearly dialogue amongst the subjects; the outcome of the yearly dialogue will create necessary relationship towards community development programme.