The Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council – ASTRC, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, has dismissed the claims by Anambra State Government that the traditional ruler of Neni, Igwe Damian Ezeani violated the law and the Council’s code of conduct, leading to his suspension.
The highly revered Obi of Onitsha berated the administration of Governor Soludo and also the commissioner for local government, Hon. Tony-collins Nwabunwanne, in the seven-page letter, pointedly accusing the government of both insulting and neglecting traditional rulers of Anambra State. Igwe Achebe who took time to carefully examine the facts surrounding the suspension of the Igwe of Neni, also faulted the accusation in the letter of suspension alleging that some Igwe are in the habit of selling chieftaincy titles to the highest bidders and dismissed the same for lack of evidence.
According to Igwe Achebe, before the suspension of Igwe Ezeani of Neni on January 8th, what the government referred to as a code of conduct that they said the Igwe had violated, was unknown to the traditional rulers. “No written directives from your ministry on conferment of chieftaincy titles existed before 08 January 2024, when Igwe Neni was suspended”, a part of the letter by His Majesty Igwe Achebe reads.
Dismissing the government’s position which has variously been a subject of all manner of controversy in the past week not only as an “after-thought”, but “the apogee of the progressive dehumanization and dismantling of the traditional institution of Anambra State by the present administration,” Igwe Achebe said. He also cautioned the commissioner for referring to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah as “one senator Ifeanyi Ubah”, this, Igwe Achebe said was insulting. “Your reference to a second-term Right Honourable Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as “one senator Ifeanyi Ubah” is most disrespectful, offensive, and unbecoming of one holding a public office as Commissioner,” His Majesty averred.
The letter by Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe dated 12th January 2024, began circulating on the night of January 16th and morning of 17th January, after the Governor’s press secretary released a press statement on the 16th, detailing that Igwe Neni, Igwe Ojoto, and others who gave chieftaincy title to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah had withdrawn same and apologized to the government.
Not only that it is difficult to understand the excessive focus of the government on chieftaincy conferment to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah or what possible mileage the tiles give him in any way, whatsoever. Or, is it just a show of ‘who is in charge’? From the look of things, it does appear that the controversies surrounding the governor’s action are far from over. Meanwhile, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has remained silent over the saga.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
