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By Madu Obi
The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe has accused Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo of crippling the traditional institution in the state.
Achebe lamented that at a time when Nigeria and several other states are considering enhancing the relevance of traditional institution, it is being diminished in Anambra.
Speaking during his 2024 Ofala festival, the Monarch said he was surprised to wake up one morning to found out that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC) which he headed had been dissolved and described as an illegal group.
He said: "This is most unfortunate at a period 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.
Besides the inability of the ASTRC to meet to deliberate on matters of interest, the state traditional institution, consequently, has no mandate to participate in the affairs of the nation’s traditional institution at national or sub-national levels."
He said further: "On 12 January, 2024 I was constrained to address a public letter to the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs of Anambra State in my capacity as the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC).
My letter was sequel to the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni and the demand for apology from two other traditional rulers by the Commissioner through correspondence posted on the social media by the Ministry.
"Both correspondence by the Commissioner and I naturally generated much attention on the social media resulting in the discontinuation of the monthly meetings of the ASTRC by the Government since March, 2024.
This was on the pretext that the ASTRC, which was constituted and hitherto supervised by the State Government, had suddenly become illegal."
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