By Tony Okafor, Awka
Indications are strong that the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, may reinstate the traditional rulers sacked by his predecessors, Chief Willie Obiano for visiting former President Muhammadu Buhari.
A reliable government source, who would not want to be named at this stage of the process disclosed this to the RAZOR NEWSPAPER on Friday.
The monarch were allegedly taken to visit Buhari by an oil mogul in the state.
Describing the sacking of the monarchs as unconstitutional, the source said they may be reinstated after some processes.
The source said,” In the first place the law cited for sacking the traditional rulers does not exist.
“Yes, go and check the law at the state House of Assembly, the law the cited does not exist. So, government is looking into the case. The monarchs may be reinstated.
“The monarchs have their fundamental rights of association and nobody can deprive them of such rights.
“We are looking into such arbitrary decisions by the past administration with a view to correcting such arbitrariness for justice”, the source said.
Obiano had approved the suspension of 12 traditional rulers in the state during his reign for an initial period of one year with effect from August 11 over alleged misconduct, but later sacked some of them.
The the then Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Greg Obi disclosed that in a statement.
Obi said the suspended monarchs travelled out of Anambra State without government’s approval.
Obi said the governor invoked the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law of 1981 to justify the suspension.
According to him, the suspended monarchs include: Igwe Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando; Igwe Mark-Anthony Okonkwo of Alor; Igwe Chukuwma Orji of Ezinifite; Igwe G.B.C Mbakwe of Abacha; Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfa; and Igwe Nkeli Nelly of Igbarim.
Others are Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle; Igwe A. N. Onwuneme of Ikenga; Igwe Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo; Igwe S. O. Uche of Ezira; Igwe Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu; and Igwe Peter Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu.
Obi said: “During the sanction period, you are required to stop holding yourselves out as traditional rulers and to cease from discharging traditional rulers’ functions in your communities or elsewhere in the state and beyond.
“This sanction may be lifted at the end of one year or renewed or upgraded in the intervening period depending on government’s review of your conduct.
“By this sanction, membership of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council is revoked, furthermore any appointment in other government committee is hereby rescinded.”
