Buhari Finally Receives Anambra Monarchs At Presidential Villa, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday played host to some traditional rulers from Anambra state, slammed one year suspension by the state government for alleged misconduct.
The monarchs, led to the Presidential Villa by the billionaire oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze, were received by Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who thanked them for coming.
The 12 traveling monarchs that included HRM Eze Dr Nkeli Nzekwe, HRM Igwe Chuba Mbakwe, HRM Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, HRH Igwe Anthony Onwekwelu, and HRH Igwe Chukwuma Bobo Orji, disclosed that the purpose of their visit was to thank President Buhari for his administration’s development strides in the South East and pledge their loyalty to him as well as plead for more.
Reacting to the development, the suspended traditional ruler of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra state, Igwe Dr. Chukwemeka Ilounoegbunam, described the incident as unfortunate, bewildering and an insult to the traditional institution. He argues: “Government knows that we must go around to do business because they don’t even give us any maintenance allowance. The traditional rulers have to travel to places to ensure they live, if that is permitted, why are you saying they must get permission every time they go out when you know the whole issues with protocols, bureaucracy. So, if you have emergency business dealings, what do you do?”.
“There is no such law prohibiting traditional rulers from travelling”, he stressed while appealing to his subjects to remain calm, insisting “we have committed no crime.”
On the way forward, Igwe Ilounoegbunam sounded optimistic that the pendulum of victory will swing in their direction. “God in his own time will restore sanity, and you will see us smiling again. We are law abiding abiding citizens. The state government has just taken their certificate, that doesn’t mean you cease being the traditional ruler. The community selected you and crowned you and not the government.
“After all, some are given certificates years after their enthronement, so, their certificate just mean government will not do business with you. It doesn’t mean that the community won’t do business with you. That is why I said everyone should keep calm, a mistake has been made somewhere and it will be corrected”, he said.
For his part, the traditional ruler of Nawfia, in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, argued that “the state government has to look at the Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that guarantees the freedom of movement that cannot be restricted. The only person that can restrict your movement is the court of competent jurisdiction.
“So, visiting the president without knowing our reasons, and even when they know it is our right to do so, therefore, the law of 1981 is in nullity when it comes to the constitution,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, had dismissed speculations that state government was witch-hunting the monarchs, disclosing that their suspension was purely a decision of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.
He said: “There is a directive that no traditional ruler anywhere in Nigeria can leave his tent without clearance. So, why did they go to Abuja in the first place? In what capacity did they went, as officials of the council for which they are not? Were they given the mandate to go represent the traditional rulers council?
According to Adinuba the conduct of the affected traditional rulers was a disgrace to the people of Anambra state. “Did you see the type of money they were sharing. If any of them remain traditional ruler, will you be proud to see him in that silly drama? All this childish, puerile and sentiments are just silly. What they did is evil and no level of settlement will pacify the people of Anambra state on this matter”.
The Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, also condemned their trip without notifying either the state or their respective local governments, noting that it violated the code of conduct prescribed for their office.
According to an official statement released by the Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the embattled traditional rulers listed the landmark projects embarked upon by President Buhari in their region to include “the Second Niger Bridge, that had been presented as an impossible task by previous administrations, but now becoming a reality under your keen watch,” the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, among others.
“The people of the South East are, indeed, grateful, as we have never had it so good, and on their behalf, we say DAALU (thank you),” the royal fathers were quoted as saying.
They also hailed President Buhari for appointing Igbo sons and daughters into key positions in government and declared that as custodians of the heritage of the people, they felt it was incumbent on them to “come and express our appreciation on behalf of the entire people of the area, and to urge Your Excellency to do more for the Zone.”
Gambari who welcomed them to the seat of power, however stressed that their controversial visit would encourage President Buhari to do even more for the south east region and the country as a whole. “As it is generally said in most parts of the country, when you thank somebody for what he has done, he is encouraged, and does more. This is an incentive for the President to do more for the country, and also for the South East,” Professor Gambari said.
Meanwhile, reports monitored by Orient Daily indicates that Prince Arthur Eze had rewarded the 12 traditional rulers from Anambra state that accompanied him to visit the presidency with a brand new Lexus -LX570 each. The exotic car gift came barely 48 hours after the monarchs were suspended by the state government for the Abuja trip.
Anambra government, had, in a circular titled “Suspension of Twelve (12) Traditional Rulers in Anambra State,” dated Tuesday August 11, 2020 and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Greg Obi, accused the monarchs of unlawful travel outside the state without due consultation.
The affected traditional rulers include, Igwe Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando, Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor, Igwe Chukuwma Bob Vincent Orji of Ezinifite, Igwe Engr G.B.C Mbakwe of Abacha, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfia, Igwe Nkeli Nelly of Igbariam and Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle.
Others are, Igwe A. N Onwuneme of Ikenga, Igwe Simeon Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo, Igwe S. O Uche of Ezira, Igwe Dr Chukwuemeka Ilounoegbunam of Ifitedunu and Igwe Peter Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu Otu.
https://orientdailynews.com/ge....opolis/anambra/buhar
