The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has extolled the virtues of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and implored him to encourage other monarchs to emulate him.
The National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum Chinedu Obigwe who hailed the Onitsha monarch in a statement on Thursday said there was no cause for alarm about Igwe Achebe’s open letter to government over the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni, in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Damian Ezeani.
Obigwe however implored Igwe Achebe not to cover up what is wrong.
Recall that the Obi of Onitsha in a lengthy open letter signed by himself condemned the suspension of Igwe Damian Ezeani and sundry government fractions again the traditional institution in the state.
Reacting to the development, Obigwe said, “”There is no cause for alarm in Obi of Onitsha open letter but there is a need to tell him not to tactically support what is wrong.
“The Obi of Onitsha we all know is respected and he earned the respect because of his way of doing things.
“When you talk of selling traditional titles to the highest bidder, Obi of Onitsha cannot be associated with such.
“Infact, in Onitsha, Obi of Onitsha does not give Chieftaincy titles any how and he cannot be associated with the conferment of Chieftaincy title to someone that is not an indigene of Onitsha.
“This and many more are the things that earned him respect. So he should encourage other traditional rulers to follow his footsteps because it is said that someone that behaves the way you do is someone you can call a friend.
” I maintain my stand that there is nothing wrong with the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni and will continue saying that Governor Soludo was lenient in ending at penalising him with suspension.
Obigwe said,”In Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello recently suspended 3 traditional rulers for not supporting APC in their State last governorship election. He has crowned another traditional ruler in one of the 3 communities.
“When people talk about Governor Soludo penalising the traditional ruler of Neni with suspension, they should compare it with the recent action of Kogi State Governor and tell me the one that is better.
“Kogi State Governor dethroned the 3 traditional rulers, banished them to Niger State and people are talking about ordinary suspension.
“”If the sins of Neni traditional ruler are to be considered for appropriate punishment to be meted to him, I say it boldly that his punishment would have been outright withdrawal of his certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Neni.
Obigwe added,”All that Governor Soludo wants is sanity and obedience to laws for the betterment of our State.
“If our traditional rulers can follow the footsteps of Obi of Onitsha, they will not have any problem with government.
“For me, Obi of Onitsha cannot support the things he does not do and I challenge anybody to show me where they have seen Obi of Onitsha conferring Chieftaincy title to anybody that is not an indigene of Onitsha.
Obigwe maintained that “Chieftaincy titles should not be for sale , it should be conferred on deserving individuals.
