The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo and the members of state Traditional Rulers Council have resolved their differences that arose from the alleged maltreatment of some traditional rulers by the state government.
Soludo noted that the controversies of the last few days arose from the suspension of a monarch and the querying of two others.
This was contained in a Tuesday statement on the official X account of the Anambra State Government, @AnambraNewMedia, managed by the New Media Office of the Governor, @CCSoludo.
Soludo had suspended a traditional ruler for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress who is reportedly gearing up to contest the 2025 governorship election.
This move has sparked a heated debate, with many speculating that the suspension was politically motivated and connected to the upcoming election.
The resolution came after an open letter of the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Dr Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who also is the Obi Onitsha, to the state governor.
The monarch faulted the state government’s approach to sanctioning traditional rulers in the state for granting chieftaincy titles to certain individuals.
Reacting to the suspension, Achebe said the state government should respect the traditional institution.
In the 14-point letter, the monarch bemoaned the dimension that was taken by the state government in the suspension of the monarch.
These among other issues formed the agenda in a meeting of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers convened by the governor.
The communiqué of the meeting read, “This is part of a consultative meeting with stakeholders to review progress in the state.
“This is part of the lineup of events in the new year, which began with a retreat of members of the State Executive Council, engagements with Ndi Anambra in Lagos, and the US Consul-General.
“About 94 traditional rulers were in attendance despite the short notice.”
Soludo also reiterated the purpose of the meeting, which was to focus on the partnership of all stakeholders towards the execution of the Solution Agenda for 2024.
“He elaborately briefed Ndi Igwe of the major milestones of his administration in the past 22 months and solicited their cooperation as stakeholders under the Public-Private Community Partnership (PPCP), a strategy for his administration’s rapid development of Anambra State.
“The governor also magnanimously addressed some of their welfare issues, announcing that with the apologies of the affected traditional rulers, the state government accepts their apologies and subsequently reinstates Igwe Neni and forgives the Igwe of Ojoto and Aguluezechukwu.
“Mr Governor further clarified the legal status of the Igwe Nawfia as advised by his legal team.”
Meanwhile, the Onitsha monarch at the meeting pledged the support of the monarchs to the Soludo-led government in the state.
There, the council requested another forum to discuss salient issues with the governor.
“At the meeting, Igwe Achebe reaffirmed the unalloyed support of the traditional rulers for the governor, assuring the government that the traditional rulers stand ready to partner with the government in all its efforts to transform Anambra into a liveable and prosperous homeland.
“He also expressed the wish that some of the issues pertaining to the suspension of some traditional rulers and the controversies of the last few days arising therefrom be put to rest.
“He requested that there were other issues that the traditional rulers wished to bring to the government and further expressed a desire to have another forum after the meeting to discuss these issues, including the welfare of the traditional rulers.
“He further requested a meeting with government officials to discuss other issues of mutual interest,” the statement noted.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, assured the monarchs that the happenings were all in the spirit of ensuring law and order in the state.
Nwabunwanne also highlighted the concerns of some traditional rulers over the composition of members of the traditional rulers’ council.
The commissioner stated that such concerns and similar issues are being looked into by the government.
Earlier, the All Progressives Congress faulted the indefinite suspension order placed on the traditional ruler of Neni, Igwe Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani.
Knocking on the governor as well, the Labour Party said there was no law in the state that banned monarchs from conferring chieftaincy titles.