FROM SACRED RITE TO SECULAR CONTEST: KINGSHIP SUCCESSION AND LEGITIMACY CRISES IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the profound crisis confronting the institution of kingship in
Southwest Nigeria, where ancient sacred traditions increasingly clash with modern secular forces.
It investigates the historical and contemporary dynamics of kingship selection and appointment,
arguing that escalating conflicts stem from a fundamental struggle over the source of legitimacy—
divine sanction versus political and legal authority. Employing a qualitative methodology based on
documentary analysis, the research traces the evolution of kingship from a spiritually ordained
office to one entangled in political patronage, litigation, and commercialization. The analysis
identifies three core areas of contradiction: the tension between hereditary succession and
meritocratic principles, the erosion of spiritual authority by secular governance, and the damaging
commodification of the throne. Findings reveal that these conflicts are symptomatic of a deeper
institutional legitimacy deficit. This deficit undermines social cohesion and impedes community
development. The paper concludes by advocating for a syncretic model that strategically integrates
sacred tradition with modern accountability. It proposes specific reforms to depoliticize
appointment processes, curb commercialization, and redefine leadership around a composite
legitimacy derived from spiritual validation, genealogical right, and demonstrated merit. This
approach aims to ensure the institution's relevance and stabilizing role in 21st-century governance.