“If you are not already dead, forgive. Rancor is heavy, it is worldly; leave it on earth: die light.”
—Jean-Paul Sartre
By Cosmas Omegoh
Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, lately, squared off with the traditional institution in the state, crossing swords with the royal fathers.
From its high horse, the Soludo government allegedly directed its Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, to suspend Igwe Damian Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area.
The state government was allegedly miffed at some monarchs’ decision to confer chieftaincy titles on some persons it judged unscrupulous.
The state was particularly livid that Igwe Ezeani conferred a title on Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the senator representing Anambra South in the Senate.
As a way of sending a signal to other monarchs in the state, the Soludo government handed down threat of withdrawal of staff of office from any traditional ruler that went against the grain of its wishes.
However, the state government’s action did not sit well with the revered Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The venerable monarch was emphatic. He explosively told Soludo that his action was a calculated affront on the traditional institution, insisting it was such and nothing less. He maintained that the governor needed to be called to order.
Igwe Achebe then fired Soludo a lengthy memo that became the talk of the town some days ago, boldly holding that the governor’s action amounted to bullying the traditional institution and thus the royal fathers.
He said: “The severity of (the) suspension and threat of withdrawal of Certificate of Recognition suggests that there may be other issues with either (the) lgwe Neni or Distinguished Senator Ubah which are being stealthily ventilated in this circumstance.”
Then turning to Commissioner Nwabunwanne, while responding to Soludo and his government, Igwe Achebe maintained: “I would like to state very clearly that your handling of this matter of conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles is the apogee of the progressive dehumanisation and dismantling of the traditional institution of Anambra State by the present administration.”
However, a conspiracy theory which made the rounds had it that the traditional rulers were not the direct target of the Soludo action. He was gunning for political opponents, allegedly afraid that Senator Ubah’s influence might spread in the days ahead. Ubah is believed to be in the hunt for Soludo’s prized office in 2025 about a shouting distance away.
The former Young Progressives Party (YPP) senator, characteristic of Nigerian politicians, made a surprise switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lately.
If you ask people in the state and the multitude that followed the Anambra high drama, they will tell you that the Achebe’s salvo was apt, that he hammered the nail right on its head.
A cross section of the society insisted that Igwe Achebe’s action was characteristically mature. He didn’t disappoint by acting not just fatherly, but promptly. He didn’t act cowardly. And above all, he didn’t act like a kept king.
Anambra natives have their fingers in the air celebrating that the Agbogidi acted with a bang, underscoring the telling reality that he has a towering personality of his own, which cannot be messed up. Some admitted that there is no Igwe in that clime who could look at Soludo in the face and tell him what Obi of Onitsha told him. They pray for the Agbogidi to live and reign long in wisdom and good health on the sacred throne of his ancestors.
Some cite a time-hallowed wisecrack that the clear essence of having revered elders like Igwe Achebe around is to stop kids from grabbing the vulture believing that it is an edible bird.
Just days ago, Anambra harvested the fruits of the Igwe’s immediate intervention in the Anambra debacle. His action doused tension and calmed frayed nerves. It also pulled Governor Soludo out of the trenches. The governor later ordered the withdrawal of the suspension letter slammed on the Neni king, urging him to go home and sin no more. That action also came as a breather to a cross section of already frightened Anambra monarchs.
Then on the part of the government, one would infer that it took home a few nuggets on how to act with deep thinking – perhaps to avoid thunderbolt from striking twice at the same spot.
Now, happily, both the state government and traditional leadership have moved on. Igwe Achebe and the rest of the traditional rulers have pledged their support to Governor Soludo in his strides. That underscores the fact that definitely, everyone needs peace which is indeed profound. Without peace, nothing meaningful can be achieved even by the ablest person with the best of intentions.
Igwe Achebe’s intervention also necessitated pegging back of some sort on the state governors’ penchant for assaulting traditional stools across the country.
It would be recalled that over the past years, countless governors had steadily desecrated various traditional institutions – some of which are as ancient as the hills. In some instances, the governors used their powers of life and death to throw the monarchs under the bus and brought them to unimaginable ridicule. Sadly, the deeds of such erstwhile governors made under the influence of power now remain permanent, even when they were by every intent and purpose, politically-motivated.
For traditional rulers across the country, the Igwe Achebe resistance remains a clear wake-up call on them to conduct themselves with dignity, decorum and self respect. They must know when to apply the brakes and when they can collectively call governors of their respective states to order when they trudge cross the red line.
Soludo who was elected as the fifth governor of Anambra State on November 9, 2021, got the full marks for not allowing his emotions maintain such a vice grip on his person and office. He acted wisely, in the hope that he has tomorrow ahead of him.
For backing down on his war with the monarchs, he admitted that rancor does not pay.
It is common knowledge that from time to time, he goes frontal with the citizenry, through some of his policies which they interpret to be herculean. Such often trigger war of words with religious, market and community leaders. They represent needless distractions all stakeholders in the Anambra project must avoid.
As the professor governor’s four-year term is gradually grinding to its end, Ndi Anambra need him as much as he needs them.
The people own him their constructive criticisms and unpatronising commendations. And he owes the people good governance, security of lives and property, improved quality of life and more. Then he must realise that if, indeed, power belongs to the people, they will definitely decide if indeed, he deserves a second coming in a matter of months from now.
Therefore, Governor Soludo should do a self-appraisal of his government so far to see how far he has delivered on his campaign promises because these are going to be the facts the Anambra people will use to judge him before renewing his mandate.