The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized the governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, for issuing an indefinite suspension order against the traditional ruler of Neni, Igwe Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani. The suspension was imposed due to the monarch conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who is a member of the APC and represents Anambra South.
APC Zonal Publicity Secretary in Anambra Central, Igboeli Arinze Napoleon, in a statement, described the action as “an attempt to muscle traditional institutions and drag it into the murky waters of Anambra politics.”
Napoleon contended that using the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Law as a basis for suspending Igwe Ezeani amounted to a lack of respect for esteemed traditional institutions. He emphasized that such an approach could adversely impact the peace and development of the state.
The statement reads, “We had the misfortune of witnessing yet again attempts by the Anambra State government to unnecessarily dabble into the affairs of our revered traditional institutions, following the suspension of the paramount ruler of Neni, His Royal Highness, Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani, for conferring chieftaincy title on one of our own, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
“Hiding under the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law, Section 2 C to suspend the cultural custodian of Neni smacks of an attempt to witch-hunt Igwe Ezeani simply because he conferred a title on Senator Ubah.
“Let us ask, is Igwe Ezeani the first to have conferred a title on someone who isn’t from his community without the opprobrious demand for clearance by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs? Or has the government woken up from its deep slumber because this time around the title was conferred on Senator Ubah?
“Let us even note that the content of Section 2 C of that law is repugnant and should not be something an administration with lots of work to do in terms of unemployment, bad and poor infrastructure and most notably, the security of lives and property should bother itself about.
“Such is only bound to muscle our traditional institutions and drag them into the murky waters of politics. Tell me why should a government demand that it clear the recipients for such titles, the government may as well hijack the process and confer such titles on behalf of these communities with the traditional rulers now serving as yes-boys!
“The Anambra Central APC is thus calling on Governor Soludo to stop this assault on our traditional institutions by repudiating the suspension of Igwe of Neni, as well as reinstating him to the throne of his fathers.”