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By Dickson Okafor
Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, Eze Oranyelu 1 is the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. In this interview, he examined the political crisis in Rivers State and noted that it would continue as long as godfathers exist in politics. He also discussed other national issues.
What are traditional rulers in the region doing about the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and efforts to get him released?
If I am to decide Nnamdi Kanu’s fate, I will tell you that Kanu’s issue cannot be settled through legal approach, but politically with a little concession. The Supreme Court judgement was based on the evidence and what the constitution says. That is why I said Nnamdi Kanu’s case cannot be settled constitutionally but could be settled politically or in any other orthodox way. To me, the channel through which the Federal Government is applying to resolve the issue won’t bear any fruit. If I were the President, I will call the traditional rulers from the South-East and some elders to negotiate the issue of Nnamdi Kanu and find a common ground to resolve the matter. Kanu did not carry gun; that is why it is more of political settlement than legal approach.
What is your assessment of the country under the government of the All Progressives congress (APC)?
We have an Igbo adage that ‘Eburu onu na agba afa ona ada onwu onwu’, that is to say if you are hungry and visits a soothsayer or a fortune teller to inquire about things, it will not work. You can only go there with a right sense of mind; you can’t go there hungry because hunger can distort your reasoning. Things are really bad and I won’t blame the present administration because if you allow them to do a thorough assessment, some of them would say if I had known this is how the economy will be, I would not have contested. What we are experiencing now was meant to happen but it’s unfortunate that the time the economy became too bad was when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu became President. If it is not Tinubu, any other person that became president would have had the same experience.
Where would you say we got it wrong?
It did not start today because those at the decision-making level were thinking about themselves and not Nigeria in policy and decision making.
When leaders only think about themselves instead of Nigerians, they will not get things right.
What do you think this administration should do to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the country because as it stands today, many people have lost hope and confidence in the country?
The economy of the country is not almost collapsing; the economy of Nigeria has collapsed. People trying to do legitimate business to earn a living are not encouraged as their contemporaries that get into government suddenly come by unexplainable wealth.
What is your take on the Rivers State political crisis between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the FCT, Nyeson Wike? What do you think of President Tinubu’s intervention?
The crisis in Rivers State shows that the people of the state and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not pick Fubara as their candidate. Once you mention godfatherism, it means you have thwarted the wishes and aspiration of the masses. How do you think such arrangement won’t fall? If I’m your godfather and you go against my will, there will be problem. If Fubara was the master of himself from day-one, nobody will dictate to him; that crisis has come to stay.
Is there any way out of the crisis?
The only way out is true democracy; government of the people by the people and for the people and not government of the godfather by the godfather and for the godfather.
What should the Federal Government do to include traditional rulers in the governance structure of Nigeria as a way to tame insecurity?
The constitution of Nigeria says that the local government must be democratically elected. Why has the government not brought governors who refused to conduct local government elections to book? Is their action not against the constitution? some governors refused to conduct local government election because it will affect their political career. How do you think restiveness in the communities will stop when governance does not get down to the grassroots? If the local government officials are allowed to manage the resources allocated to them from the Federation Account, do you think they will not improve? If Nnamdi Kanu committed treason because he did something that is against the constitution, the state governors whose responsibility is to conduct local election but failed to do so should be where Nnamdi Kanu is.
Why are traditional rulers not empowered to be able to hold governors and local government chairmen accountable?
Traditional rulers are allocated 25 per cent of allocations meant for the local government but the governors deny them the allocation and turn them into beggars; the governors threaten to withdraw the certificate of recognition of the traditional rulers if they demand for their rights.
What is the significance of Ofala festival being observed annually by traditional rulers in the South-East?
Ofala is a culture that is celebrated by recognised and certified traditional rulers of each community in Igbo land. It is also an occasion that all communities, friends and well-wishers come together to thank God and celebrate the throne of the traditional ruler that has piloted the affairs of the community and pray for the success of the subjects and development of the community. It is a time when the traditional rulers reward some outstanding individuals of the community who have distinguished themselves in the development of the community. The traditional rulers also use the Ofala celebration to reward the subjects who have been good ambassadors of the community. It is generally an opportunity to take stock of the community, interact with your subjects.
What are the other traditional benefits of Ofala festival to the development and unity of the community, state and the nation?
We have some burning issues in Nigeria right now. The greatest challenge in the country is insecurity and for any human being who indulges in any act contrary to the law to a community should be punished.
This means the traditional rulers have very significant role to play in the security of the country.
The President, Governors, legislators and every one belongs to a community, and they respect the laws of their communities. So, if that is the case the traditional institution has a big role to play in the day-to-day governance of the country. And that is why some of us have been agitating that traditional rulers should be legalised and made the fourth tier of government.
