The alleged rift between Anambra State governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, may have taken a worse turn.
The governor, who has been a regular guest at the annual Onitsha Ofala festival, was conspicuously absent at the 2024 edition on Friday.
While as a guest last year, Soludo had promised to partner the monarch to boost the festival, but things fell apart after he suspended the traditional ruler of Neni community, HRH lgwe Damian Ezeani, who conferred chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, a potential challenger of Soludo’s re-election before his demise in September.
At that time in January, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, explained that the Code of Conduct for traditional rulers in the State mandates that no monarch can confer a chieftaincy title on anyone from outside his community, without obtaining the permission of the traditional ruler of the recipient’s community.
Ubah hailed from Otolo, a community in Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA), while Neni is located in the Anaocha LGA.
In an open letter to the government, Igwe Achebe accused Soludo of not respecting traditional institutions in the State.
Soludo later convened a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, where he waved the proverbial olive branch.
Speaking at the latest edition of Ofala festival held at the weekend, the Obi accused the governor of undermining the traditional institution in the State.
He said while other states in Nigeria are working towards enhancing the relevance of traditional institutions, that of Anambra is being diminished.
The monarch said he is surprised to discover that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), which he heads, has been dissolved and labeled an illegal group.
He stated: “This is most unfortunate at a time when other states, as well as the Federal government and the National Assembly, are seriously seeking ways to enhance the relevance of the traditional institution in the country.”
He lamented ASTRC’s inability to convene to discuss matters of interest to the state, resulting in the traditional institution’s lack of mandate to engage in national or sub-national affairs.
Providing background, Igwe Achebe stated: “On 12 January 2024, I was compelled to address a public letter to the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs of Anambra State in my capacity as Chairman of the ASTRC. My letter was in response to the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni and the demand for apologies from two other traditional rulers, communicated via social media by the Ministry.
“Both correspondences generated considerable attention on social media, leading to the discontinuation of the ASTRC’s monthly meetings by the government since March 2024, under the pretext that the ASTRC, previously supervised by the state government, had suddenly become illegal.”