Uzu Okagbue, former Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff to Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra State, has faulted Governor Soludo’s appointment of Eze Obosi, Igwe AC Iweka, as the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, ASTRC. According to Okagbue, the governor’s appointment of Eze Obi is suspicious, contradictory, and summarily an attempt to stalk the old rivalry between Onitsha and Obosi. “You, (Governor Soludo) declared the tenure of the Obi of Onitsha as Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council illegal only to contradict yourself by acknowledging Eze Obosi as his successor”, Okagbue said.
It would be recalled that exactly a year ago, a letter from the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne, suspending Igwe Neni for giving Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah a chieftaincy title, sparked all sorts of controversy. In reaction, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, wrote a letter to the governor, addressing some critical issues and accused him of neglecting and insulting the Traditional Rulers Council. A few days later, the governor responded when he removed the Obi of Onitsha as the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, claiming that his tenure has since elapsed. The governor then pledged to reconstitute the Council and appoint a new Chairman. On Saturday, January 18, exactly a year after the letter of Obi of Onitsha was released to the public, Soludo announced Igwe AC Iweka, Eze Obosi, as the new Chairman of ASTRC.
Pointing to the contradiction, Okagbue said that Soludo didn’t only contradict himself, but by his choice, he exposed a deeper mischievous intention. “Such contradictory assertions expose a deeper intent; to fan the flames of an ancient rivalry between Ndi Onitsha and Ndi Obosi, a rivalry that many of us who grew up in this land know too well. Your subtle machinations, aimed at dismantling the pillars of our cultural identity under the guise of ‘value reorientation’ are transparent to those who understand the fabric of our history,” Okagbue said.
Uzu Okagbue also accused Governor Soludo of trying to erode traditions and traditional institutions, while reminding him that “power as intoxicating as it may seem, is fleeting. The wisdom of time will remind you that your governorship of Anambra is not eternal,” Uzu Okagbue admonished.
The appointment of Eze Obosi as the Chairman of ASTRC has been viewed with suspicion in some quarters, considering the age-long rivalry between Onitsha and Obosi. A rivalry that is still very much potent and alive. However, the Obi of Onitsha has congratulated Igwe AC Iweka, on his emergence as the new Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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One comment
Chris McCool Nwosu
January 27, 2025 at 3:23 am
I’m struggling to see the said contradictions.
Meanwhile, the real mischief maker one can see in the instant matter is the person who is trying to resurrect the long rested rivalry between some two communities residing in peace.
Ndi Anambra cannot be easily misled by persons whose outlook to politics are driven by partisan motives.