Abuja Trip: Anambra community urges stiffer penalty against suspended monarchs
Aguleri(Anambra) People of Eziagulueri-Otu and Mkpunando both in Anambra East Council Area have said their monarchs who were part of the 12 Anambra traditional rulers that visited Aso-Rock last week were on their own.
The people made their position known in a peaceful protest at popular Aguleri Roudabout in Anambra East Local Government Area on Monday.
The monarchs were Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando Peter Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu.
They said they were fully in support of the action of Gov. Willie Obiano who slammed one year suspension on the monarchs and urged the governor to withdraw the certificates of recognition of the monarchs.
They maintained that the role of the suspended traditional rulers was act of “gross misconduct” as it showed disloyalty.
It would be recalled that Obiano on Aug. 11 suspended 12 monarchs for leaving the state for Abuja without informing him or obtaining official approval.
The affected were; Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando; Mark-Anthony Okonkwo of Alor; Chukuwma Orji of Ezinifite; G.B.C Mbakwe of Abacha; Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfa and Nkeli Nelly of Igbarim.
Others were Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle; A. N. Onwuneme of Ikenga; Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo; S. O. Uche of Ezira; Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu and Peter Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu.
Speaking at the event, Mr Hippo Onwuekpuke, President General of Aguleri Town said they conduct of the traditional rulers were most regrettable as they did not inform the elders nor the peoples of their communities before the journey.
Onwuekpuke also called on the traditional title holder institutions and elders to strip them of their titles.
“We are to tell the world that we are not part of that activity we condemn it in its entirety, whatever they did is on their own.
“We want to use this opportunity to pray that the governor should withdraw their certificates of recognition because they have done worse thing that makes them act like despot than the visit to Abuja.
Mr Nnamdi Ikeli-Adimora National President of Aguleri Youths Assembly said the town was embarrassed by the conduct of the monarchs.
Ikeli-Adimora said youth were worried about the developments in the town which tended to pitch Aguleri against the state government.
“Apart from the visit to Abuja there are community issues on land sale which made the people to write a petition to government, the traditional title holders and elders (Ojiani and Ichie) invited one of them but he refused.
“As youths we are worried about these development, where are we going to live when they sell all our land?
“So we the youth of Aguleri are saying we don’t want them as our traditional rulers again, “ he said.
Also speaking, Chief Aronu Udefi, a representative of the elders Council said they were not aware nor in support of what the monarchs did.
“We crowned them king but they are hurting us, so we want to say that they are hurting us, we did not send them anywhere and whatever the government deems fit, they should do to them,” he said.
