By Adesina Soyooye
The storm over the visit, by 12 Anambra Traditional Rulers to Abuja, without any authourization from the State Government, is yet to abate. It is still boiling.
The Traditional Rulers had, at the behest of Chief Arthur Eze, travelled to Abuja to see President Muhammadu Buhari. Arranged by Eze, who also sponsored them to the hilt, they said the trip was to thank Mr President for the good works he had done in the state.
They were unable to see the President, and ended up seeing his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Neither the State Government, nor the Leadership of the Anambra Traditional Council, was aware of the trip.
The Abuja trip attracted strong condemnations from accross the state and beyond, not only because it breached protocols, but it was seen as a deliberate action by the Traditional Rulers and their sponsor to cause a breach of the peace In the state.
On return, the State Government suspended the 12 Traditional Rulers for one year, stripping them of all privileges due to their office.
But the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, a son of the state, whose Traditional Ruler was affected, but has since, apologised, does not think that the suspension given to them is enough.
Ngige wants them banished from their communities, and their sponsor, Arthur Eze punished.
In an interview, with The Punch, he said the trip ought to have attracted more punishment than it did. He, also accused Eze of sabotage against the State. When you suspend somebody from office, Ngige argued, you ban the person from the vicinity of the office.
Ngige: “When somebody is suspended from performing the functions of his office, it’s natural that he is banned from being in that vicinity. Allowing him to stay around is risky because he is a threat to peace. In order to avert such a threat, he should be sent out to another place to prevent possible conduct likely to cause the breach of law and order in the vicinity.
“So, I advise the Anambra state government to relocate the 12 traditional rulers from their communities to avoid a situation likely to cause the breach of public peace.
“The businessman, Arthur Eze, who took them on the Abuja trip should be punished for sabotage.”
Ngige’s traditional ruler had, in a video which went viral on Whatsaap, apologised to Governor, Willie Obiano, for the ill-fated trip, but his Alor Community has since denied him, insisting the traditional ruler was imposed on them.
“He is not our choice”, they chorus.
