By Gideon Njoku
The cold war between the Governor of Anambra State and some Traditional Rulers in the State has reached a boiling point.
The problem started a few months ago when an Anambra Businessman, and a-President Muhammadu Buhari friend, Chief Arthur Eze, organised and took 11 Traditional Rulers to Abuja for what they termed a “Thank You Visit.”
The visit was without the knowledge or permission of the State Government.
On their return, the Governor suspended them for an initial period of one year.
The suspension caused a big spat between the Governor and Eze
However in a statement dated December 17, 2020, and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Greg Obi, the Government took three decisions – Pardoned five of them, insisted on the one year suspension of three of them, and dethroned three others.
Those dethroned are:
*Igwe Chijoke Nwankwo of Nawfia.
*Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle
*Igwe G.B.C. Mbakwe of Abacha.
The statement ordered the Traditional Rulers to hand over their certificates of recognition to the Secretary to the Local Government of their Communities within one month..
Those whose suspension continues are:
*Igwe Kelly N. Nkeli of Igbariam.
*Igwe Dr Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu.
*Igwe Peter A. Uyanwa of Ukwulu.
But five of them were lucky after the Governor considered the passionate pleas of the Traditional Rulers Council and other stakeholders.
They are:
*Igwe Simon Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo
*Igwe A.N. Onwuneme of Ikenga.
*Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor
*Igwe Chukwuma Bob Vincent Orji of Ezinifite
*Igwe S.O. Uche of Ezira.
The lifting of the suspension on the Igwe of Alor is bound to overheat the polity. Between the Igwe and the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, there is no love lost. Ngige is from Alor, and had had issues with his Traditional ruler. Ngige does not recognise him as the Igwe.
With the lifting of the suspension, it does seem that the Traditional Ruler is back to the winning ways.
