By Adadareporters
Anambra traditional rulers, Tuesday, declared their unalloyed support to the administration of Gov Charles Soludo.
A release by Soludo’s press secretary, Chris Aburime, stated that about 94 traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, made the declaration during a meeting with the governor.
Igwe Achebe, during the meeting, said they would support Soludo’s administration in its efforts to transform Anambra into a livable and prosperous homeland.
Aburime wrote, “Igwe Achebe expressed the wish that some of the issues pertaining to the suspension of some traditional rulers and the controversies of the last few days arising therefrom be put to a rest. He requested that there were other issues that the traditional rulers wish to bring to the government, and further expressed a desire to have another forum after the meeting to discuss these issues, including the welfare of the traditional rulers.”
The commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, assured the traditional rulers that ‘the government holds them in high esteem, and looks forward to continuing working with them closely’.
He also highlighted the concerns of some traditional rulers over the composition of members of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, adding that ‘such concerns and similar issues are being looked into by government’.
Governor Soludo reiterated the purpose of the meeting which was to focus on the partnership of all stakeholders towards the execution of his Solution Agenda for 2024.
According to Aburime, “Soludo briefed the traditional rulers of the major milestones of his administration in the past 22 months; and solicited their cooperation as stakeholders under the Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP), a strategy of his administration’s rapid development of Anambra State.
“It was observed that the body operating as the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council as constituted was unknown to the law. The State Government observed that the body was improperly constituted in violation of the provision of section 2 (F) of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers (Amendment) Law, 2020.
“The record of the state however shows that the body currently acting as the Traditional Rulers Council is composed of 52 persons in utter violation of the law, the implication of which is that the body is not the Traditional Rulers Council known to law. To that extent, that body as presently constituted cannot make any valid decisions or function legally; and could not have done so in the light of the provisions of the law.
“The State Government observed that most members of the said body as presently constituted have held their positions beyond the eight years limit in violation of the law. The cumulative effect of the above is that the present body cannot legally function as the Traditional Rulers Council as it is made up of persons who are legally disabled from being members of the Council. Unfortunately, this body has been functioning as the Traditional Rulers Council of Anambra State for several years.”
Soludo therefore suggested the following, according to the release, “That all traditional rulers in the state become members of the Anambra Traditional Rulers Council other than a select few, and therefore remove the term limit.
“But that for this to function there will be a need for amendment of the relevant sections of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law.”
The meeting resolved that a committee made up of five traditional rulers, plus officers of government meet to consider the amendment of the relevant sections and any other section of the Traditional Rulers law deemed pertinent for a review.”
The release continued that, “The governor also addressed some of their welfare issues. He announced that with the apologies of the affected traditional rulers, the State government accepts their apologies, and subsequently reinstates the traditional ruler of Neni, and forgive the traditional rulers of Ojoto and Aguluezechukwu.”
