•Condemnation trails gagging of traditional institution in Anambra as APC, others kick
From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State is under severe attack over the suspension of a traditional ruler for conferring chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South.
Paramount ruler of Neni, Anaocha Local Government, Igwe Damian Ezeani, was suspended indefinitely by the governor for allegedly flouting the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2020, as amended, by conferring chieftaincy titles on some persons without government approval.
Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, said the governor would not hesitate to exercise his powers under Section Two (C) of the law: “The code of conduct for traditional rulers in the state provides that no traditional ruler can confer chieftaincy title on anyone outside his community without obtaining the permission of the traditional ruler of the recipient community.
“Government has equally issued a directive to the effect that no such chieftaincy title should be conferred by any traditional ruler on a recipient outside his community without obtaining clearance from the ministry.” He explained that the regulations and measures were among other things, to prevent abuses and trading of chieftaincy titles for money thereby bringing the traditional institution to disrepute.
The embattled ruler apologised to the governor as captured in a viral video clip and reportedly withdrew the contentious chieftaincy title conferred on Ubah: “I am currently, chairman of Anambra Central Traditional Rulers Forum and if any of my colleagues had committed the same offence, I apologise on his behalf.
“I am also offering this apology on behalf of the entire Neni community. I don’t want this issue to affect the good relationship Neni community has with the state government.
“I am a humble person and we were brought up to apologise to anybody we offend, not to talk of the governor of the state. Please accept my sincere apologies.”
Another traditional ruler caught in similar web, Igwe Dr. Daniel Obelle of Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government, equally apologised to the governor. He pleaded he be forgiven as he has not been long on the stool.
Soludo’s predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, in 2020 suspended 12 traditional rulers after 13 of them joined billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, on a “thank you visit” to former president Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja. Eze was then at loggerheads with Obiano, whom he (Eze) accused of not treating traditional rulers with the desired dignity, especially in terms of their remunerations as stipulated by extant laws.
Some persons in Nawfia took advantage of the situation and allegedly replaced their traditional ruler, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, which seemingly received the blessing of the state government. The matter has engendered a stiff legal tussle.
All Progressives Congress (APC), South East, was the first to rap Soludo for allegedly indulging in abrasive actions; an affront against Igbo traditional institution.
APC National Vice Chairman, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, who condemned the suspension of Igwe of Neni, also decried the arrest of the alleged favourite for the Arochukwu traditional stool in Abia State, Godwin Kanu Idei, by the Alex Otti-led administration, over “false allegations of impersonation.”
He said the “actions of the Anambra and Abia State Governments were an attempt to make Igbo crowns and stools an appendage of the APGA-led state government and the Labour Party government in Abia state, respectively.” He called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo as well as prominent Igbo people and Nigerians to rise up and condemn such acts as “it very much undermined the tradition of Ndigbo.”
A two-time member of Anambra State House of Assembly, Chugbo Enwezor, said Soludo’s action was a violation of the citizen’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: “The Anambra law is against freedom of association and freedom of expression.
“Government has no right to suspend a traditional ruler because he bestowes a traditional title on someone. That is unconstitutional because any law or guideline that is at variance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands null and void.
“Recently, the traditional ruler of Ukpo in Dunukofia LG conferred a traditional title on Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman and former governor of Kano State. But we didn’t hear that Eze Ukpo got any clearance from the Emir of Kano or the Anambra State Government before doing that.
“Soludo’s action is purely political in this instance and if he should take advice, he should have simply ignored what happened in Neni. This is a democracy and the traditional ruler of a community is entitled to confer title on anyone he finds worthy of such.”
Another respondent, Dr. Ebele Okeke, accused the Soludo-led administration of turning blind eye to such critical issues as insecurity, poor public infrastructure, lack of pipe borne water, corruption and embezzlement in government agencies, murders and kidnappings that required immediate executive attention, and pursued mundane things by “prioritising the bureaucratic subjugation of the people through the implementation of mundane, senseless, unactionable and unimplementable laws that add no value to our statehood.”
Also, Chief Nnaemeka Maduegbuna urged the governor to pay more attention to management of important interest groups, noting that whatever offence of Igwe Neni, the matter could have been better managed: “There are insinuations of double standard by the government. The language of that letter by the Commissioner for Local Government gives graphic expression to the less than stellar performance of the government in riding the challenges arising from the reported actions of Igwe Neni.
“Finally, our governor has to understand that with his first four-year tenure close to the half way mark, there will naturally be persons interested in succeeding him. Whilst it is his right if he desires, to go for a second term, our governor must never forget that in the execution of his current mandate, his statesmanship should remain above the partisan political clutter.”
Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), did not spare Soludo. The group accused the governor of “making the retrogressive law because of Ubah and other political bigwigs who have interest in contesting for the governorship position of the state come 2025.
“The traditional institution is older than Soludo. Those who know him should advise him to retrace his step and allow the traditional institutions to function the way they had before now.”
For a community leader from Akpo community in Aguata LG, Chief Joe Mbakwe, the traditional rulers should be made to comply with the government regulation if the law was truly in existence: “If the law or guidelines were actually made, the traditional rulers should abide by it and anyone that contravenes the law should go in for it.
“The law should also spell out the penalties for violating it. The law should not be selective.”