By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Traditional rulers of Abagana, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke, and Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Okonkwo – both in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State – have condemned Monday’s suspension of their colleague, the traditional ruler of Ukwulu, Igwe Uyanwa, for one year by the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The suspension, which was made public in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, said that the action was based on several petitions by the people of the community and beyond, against the monarch.

Addressing journalists at his palace in Ukwulu, Dunukofia LGA of the state, Igwe Uyanwa said Obiano was meddling in traditional affairs in which he had no business.

He said: “Obiano is meddling in things that don’t concern him. The traditional institution is older than the government, and not even the Governor can do otherwise.

“We cannot be under the commissioner. Those who are in authority must show maturity. Anambra is one and the governor should not cause division in the state. After all, his party APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance) is not the only party in the state.

“Obiano should go and intimidate his workers not traditional rulers.

“Arthur Eze spoke to us about zoning. But if you say only Anambra South will contest governorship, then they need to come for negotiation with other zones.”

On his part, the traditional ruler of Nawfia wondered why the Governor did not inform the traditional rulers in the state when the suspended royal fathers erred.

He added: “We have nothing against Obiano. He is our brother and our son. If Igwe Uyanwa has done anything wrong, we the monarchs of the state should be told so, after all we all were in the meeting where Arthur Eze spoke.”

In his speech, the suspended monarch said: “Obiano is against me because all traditional rulers came to my palace and joined Prince Arthur Eze to commend the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“If what we said about Buhari is what makes me a rebel, I will repeat it 100 times and we will never cease to thank him (Buhari) for what he is doing in our state, Anambra, and the entire South East.

“There is the Enugu International Airport, Second Niger Bridge, Enugu – Onitsha Expressway and very many more projects.”

While insisting that he remains the traditional ruler of Ukwulu community, he stressed that no one can remove him.

He added: “I give respect to whom respect is due. If I talk I will die and if I don’t talk I will die, so it is better to talk and die.

“We shall soon be going to see Mr President. We thank Arthur Eze who will be leading us to the President. Arthur Eze has done what the Governor could not do. He even held a meeting with us and the Miyetti Allah leaders and told us to always come to him if cattle rearers destroy crops in communities, that he is ready to pay, instead of farmers having clashes with herders.

“To Obiano, I can only ask him to keep his certificate, I do not need it you do not need certificate to lead the people of Ukwulu.”

Addressing the monarchs, business mogul Arthur Eze declared that Governor Obiano is fighting a battle he will lose.

He said: “Obiano is fighting a battle he cannot win. We are the people who make governors, so governors cannot dictate to us what to do.

“I have been in and around government since 1970, and within that period I have made many governors in Nigeria.

“Since Obiano is not ready to pay you people (traditional rulers), I shall be giving N200,000 to all monarchs every month. I shall also give N10m to former LGA chairmen to pursue their matter in court, against the governor.

“As for you traditional rulers, your matter is settled because I have reached President Buhari, and he is willing to meet with you people.”