From Lawrence Chudi, Awka
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has described the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni kingdom in Anaocha council Area, HRH Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani by the Soludo administration as an attempt to muscle the traditional institutions in the state.
The Neni monarch was recently suspended for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator representing Anambra South, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
The Zonal Publicity Secretary for Anambra APC Central, Igboeli Arinze Napoleon, in a statement said the suspension of Igwe Ezeani is akin to disrespecting the revered traditional institutions in the state and dragging it into the murky waters of Anambra politics.
According to him, such move will not augur well for the peace and development of the state. “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, HRH Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani owing to the fact that he conferred a chieftaincy title on one of our own, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
“Hiding under the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law, Section 2 C by the Soludo administration 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.”