Every state boundary in Nigeria is younger than 1967. Almost every stool inside those boundaries is older than the country. Where the two disagree — Ilorin, Warri, Jos, Wukari — you get a chieftaincy dispute that outlives governors.
Principal indigenous languages per state — not an exhaustive inventory, but the languages a state must govern in.
Fulfulde, Hausa, Bachama, Kilba, Chamba, Margi. Plurality is not decoration: it decides who chairs the caucus, which stool is graded first-class, and how a state's federal character quota is filled.
A single language does not mean a single politics — the Igbo-speaking states run some of the fiercest intra-state zoning arguments in the federation.
Principal first-class traditional rulers by state. States run many more graded stools beneath these.
Emir of Dutse, Emir of Hadejia, Emir of Kazaure, Emir of Gumel. A crowded bench is usually the residue of pre-colonial emirates or kingdoms that were merged into one modern state.
The Benin monarchy predates the Portuguese arrival, survived the 1897 punitive expedition and the exile of Ovonramwen, and still sits inside a state created in 1991.
Languages · Igbo
Stools · Eze Ikonne of Aba, Ukwa/Ngwa Ezes
Languages · Fulfulde, Hausa, Bachama, Kilba, Chamba, Margi
Stools · Lamido of Adamawa, Hama Bachama, Gara of Mubi
Languages · Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Eket
Stools · Oku Ibom Ibibio, Ahta Oron
Languages · Igbo
Stools · Obi of Onitsha, Igwe of Awka, Igwe of Nnewi
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde, Sayawa, Jarawa
Stools · Emir of Bauchi, Emir of Katagum, Emir of Ningi
Languages · Izon, Nembe, Epie-Atissa, Ogbia
Stools · Amanyanabo of Nembe, Ibenanaowei of Ogbia
Languages · Tiv, Idoma, Igede
Stools · Tor Tiv, Och'Idoma
Languages · Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa Arabic, Marghi, Babur
Stools · Shehu of Borno, Emir of Biu
Languages · Efik, Ejagham, Bekwarra, Bette, Yala
Stools · Obong of Calabar, Ntoe of Ejagham, Obol Lopon of Ugep
Languages · Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Igbo (Anioma)
Stools · Olu of Warri, Ovie of Uvwie, Asagba of Asaba
Languages · Igbo
Stools · Ezeogo of Abakaliki, Eze Aku
Languages · Edo (Bini), Esan, Owan, Etsako, Akoko-Edo
Stools · Oba of Benin, Onojie of Uromi, Otaru of Auchi
Languages · Yoruba (Ekiti)
Stools · Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere, Alara of Aramoko
Languages · Igbo
Stools · Igwe of Nsukka, Onyishi stools of Nkanu
Languages · Gbagyi, Gwandara, Bassa, Koro, Hausa
Stools · Ona of Abaji, Esu of Karshi, Sa'Peyi of Garki
Languages · Fulfulde, Hausa, Tangale, Waja, Tera
Stools · Emir of Gombe, Mai Tangale
Languages · Igbo
Stools · Eze Imo, Obi of Oguta
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde
Stools · Emir of Dutse, Emir of Hadejia, Emir of Kazaure, Emir of Gumel
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde, Gbagyi, Atyap, Bajju, Ham
Stools · Emir of Zazzau, Agwam Atyap, Kpop Ham
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde
Stools · Emir of Kano, Emir of Rano, Emir of Gaya, Emir of Karaye
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde
Stools · Emir of Katsina, Emir of Daura
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde, Zarma, Dakarkari
Stools · Emir of Gwandu, Emir of Argungu, Emir of Yauri
Languages · Igala, Ebira, Okun Yoruba, Nupe, Bassa
Stools · Attah of Igala, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Maiyegun of Yagba
Languages · Yoruba, Nupe, Baruba, Fulfulde
Stools · Emir of Ilorin, Olofa of Offa, Emir of Borgu (Kaiama)
Languages · Yoruba (Awori, Egun)
Stools · Oba of Lagos, Akran of Badagry, Oniru of Iru, Ojora of Ijora
Languages · Eggon, Alago, Gwandara, Mada, Hausa
Stools · Emir of Lafia, Aren Eggon, Osana of Keffi
Languages · Nupe, Gbagyi, Hausa, Kambari, Baruba
Stools · Etsu Nupe, Emir of Kontagora, Emir of Suleja
Languages · Yoruba (Egba, Ijebu, Remo, Yewa, Awori)
Stools · Alake of Egbaland, Awujale of Ijebuland, Akarigbo of Remoland, Olu of Ilaro
Languages · Yoruba (Akure, Ondo, Owo, Akoko), Ilaje, Apoi
Stools · Deji of Akure, Osemawe of Ondo, Olowo of Owo
Languages · Yoruba (Ijesa, Ife, Osun, Igbomina)
Stools · Ooni of Ife, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Ataoja of Osogbo
Languages · Yoruba (Oyo, Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun)
Stools · Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, Soun of Ogbomoso
Languages · Berom, Ngas, Tarok, Mwaghavul, Hausa
Stools · Gbong Gwom Jos, Ponzhi Tarok, Long Ngas
Languages · Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ogoni (Khana), Etche, Ijaw
Stools · Amanyanabo of Kalabari, Nye Nwe Ali Ikwerre, Amanyanabo of Okrika
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde, Zarma
Stools · Sultan of Sokoto, Marafan Sokoto
Languages · Jukun, Mumuye, Fulfulde, Kuteb, Mambilla
Stools · Aku Uka of Wukari, Gara of Donga, Ukwe Kuteb
Languages · Kanuri, Hausa, Bade, Ngizim, Karekare
Stools · Emir of Fika, Mai Bade, Emir of Damaturu
Languages · Hausa, Fulfulde
Stools · Emir of Anka, Emir of Gusau, Emir of Zurmi