Mixed reactions have trailed the suspension of a traditional ruler of an Anambra community and threat to others by the state government over the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some individuals during the Yuletide.
Residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews yesterday blamed the traditional rulers for their woes, while others said the government was overbearing.
NAN reports that the Anambra government on January 8, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, suspended Igwe Damian Ezeani of Neni community for conferring chieftaincy title on Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah.
The government, which accused the traditional ruler of not complying with the provisions of Traditional Ruler Code of Conduct (2020), also threatened to sanction those who abused the process.
Mr Sam Okeke, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said if there was a law which said the state should know about any conferment of chieftaincy titles, the government was right in its actions.
Okeke, however, said it was unfortunate that such a law existed in the first place because it was the prerogative of traditional rulers to decide who to confer titles on and that it should not be a matter for the government.
He described as a jamboree, a situation where traditional rulers conferred titles on as many as 30 persons on one occasion without clear criteria or proof of how the beneficiary impacted the welfare of the people and infrastructure development of the community.
According to him, “I do not think it is fair to dethrone or suspend a traditional ruler for conferring chieftaincy titles on people, it amounts to restricting their rights and privileges.
“The law cannot be actually very justifiable, it actually should not be there in the first place because it affects their image natively,” he said.
Okeke, an international lawyer, said the behaviour of some of the traditional rulers was controversial and that some of them had compromised their stool by being politically-inclined.
He said the abuse of the traditional institution was perpetrated mostly by those who were supported by the government to ascend the throne, adding that when they yielded to be candidates of government, abuse is inevitable.
Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, founder of Ogilisi Foundation, an Igbo sociocultural organisation, said traditional rulers deserved better treatment in the hands of the government for the collective image of Igbo people.
Ezeonwuka said although some traditional rulers erred in their actions, they should not be sacked as students in a classroom as had been the case in recent time, but the government should instead set up a panel of inquiry.
He said it was reprehensible for any traditional ruler to confer chieftaincy title for personal interest and monetary gains, but anyone who had contributed to the development of his community was entitled to a chieftaincy title.
Ogilisi, as he is popularly called, said traditional rulers could as well use such gestures to attract individuals who could execute development projects in the communities.
According to him, it should not have been the case but because the traditional institution has been made to become part of the government, where the government pays the piper, they should dictate the tune.
“Government gives them vehicles, pays them salaries, they depend on the government so they should be under government control.
“They should have set up an inquiry made up of people with good knowledge of tradition, not politicians. These people will look at the issues and advise the government appropriately and help the government play safe.
“The threat and sack of Igbo traditional rulers is not good for the dignity of the stools and image of the people,” he said.
On their part, the Ikemba Front, a political pressure group, said singling out a traditional ruler for conferring a chieftaincy title on Ubah, who had indicated interest to contest the 2025 governorship election, was a show of political desperation by Soludo.
Mr Arinze Awogu, the National Coordinator of the group, condemned what he called “selective justice” meted out to Igwe Ezeani and by extension Ubah.
According to the group, no fewer than 177 eminent personalities were conferred with varying chieftaincy titles during the yuletide and new year celebrations by no fewer than 21 highly revered traditional rulers across Anambra.
“We wondered why Igwe Damian Ezeani should be singled out for vilification and witch hunting
“We challenge the government to publish clearance letters issued in favour of all the recipients of chieftaincy titles, showing that they complied with *Section 2 C* of the _Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law,” he stated
The group described *Section 2 C* of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law as draconian, repugnant to natural justice and good conscience and an affront to the independence of the sacred traditional institution.
A source who pleaded anonymity said the law was made by the traditional rulers themselves, passed by the State House of Assembly and signed into law by the state governor in 2020.
The source said since the traditional rulers conscientiously made the law for themselves, they should be bound by it as it was not a creation of Soludo’s administration.
