Assessment of Traditional Rulers in Consolidating Governance in Nigeria: an Analysis of Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State 2019 – 2023

The study assessed the roles of traditional rulers in consolidating governance in Ogbadigbo local government area of Benue State, Nigeria within 2019 – 2023. Structural functionalist theory was adopted. Qualitative research method was adopted with the population of all traditional rulers in Ogbadigbo local government area of Benue State and sample size of six (6) informants. Purposive sampling technique was adopted whereby interview was used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used and analyzed the collected data. Finding indicates that traditional rulers are the indigenous political arrangements whereby they are appointed and installed in line with the provisions of their native laws and customs. Their constitutional powers are is limited to be the custodian of their people's norms, cultures and practices. It is obtainable in the Ogbadigbo, selection of persons into the offices of traditional institutions is hereditary or by selection or election by the instrument of relevant traditional methods. Also, the current democracy incomplete their constitutional power to the preservation of public peace, settlement of disputes among their subject, assisting in the collection of their subject when the above things/issues are taken care of. It is discovered that the roles of traditional rulers in consolidating governance of Ogbadigbo local government area are; maintenance of law and order in the society, settlement of land disputes in the various communities, promoting peace among the various communities through enlightenment, mobilization and sensitization drive, and embarking on awareness campaign or the sensitization of their community populace on HIV/AIDS epidemic. Traditional rulers are putting efforts to enhance social, economic and cultural lines of their people. It is recommended that traditional rulers should be made to have more power in their communities in order to shape their political and socio-economic landscape to suit the wishes of the people at the grassroots level.