The Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe has lambasted Governor Chukwuma Soludo for suspending Igwe Damian Ezeani for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Recall that the Press Secretary to Governor Soludo, Christian Aburime had in a statement said that the suspended monarch and two other traditional rulers who gave Ubah chieftaincy titles have apologised to the Anambra State government and withdrawn the chieftaincy titles conferred on the Senator because it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers’ law.

Obi of Onitsha said: “The tone and language of your letter were, by any measure, a public riot act and pontification to the same majority of traditional rulers that you extolled as acting with dignity and integrity.”

“The letter lacked respect and sensitivity in addressing the traditional rulers of Anambra State who, by any standard, are held in very high esteem in the comity of the traditional institutions of Nigeria and beyond.”

“Your letter also stated that lgwe Damian Ezeani, as the traditional ruler of Neni, conferred such a phantom chieftaincy title on one Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in violation of the Code of Conduct and without clearance from the Ministry.”

“The Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, ASTRC, cannot yet take a view on the violation of the Code of Conduct until it receives a report from the ad-hoc committee it set up to meet with lgwe Neni.”

“Nevertheless, it is very manifestly presented above that no written directives on the conferment of chieftaincy titles existed before January 8, 2024 when lgwe Neni was suspended.”

“Your reference to a second-term Right Honourable Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as ‘one Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’ is most disrespectful, offensive and unbecoming of one holding a political office as commissioner.”

“It is noteworthy that a person can only qualify to contest elections after scaling through the highest level of security checks at the federal level. Furthermore, Distinguished Senator Ubah holds a chieftaincy title of his hometown, Nnewi, conferred on him by his monarch and Grand Patron of the Anambra State Traditional Institution, His Majesty, lgwe Kenneth O. Orizu.”

“He is also a well-known business investor in Anambra State and a generous philanthropist.”