The traditional ruler of Neni Community, in Anambra State, Damian Ezeani, who was suspended for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has apologised to Governor Charles Soludo.
Neni is a community in Anaocha Local Council of the state. Recall that Soludo, on Monday, suspended the traditional ruler for conferring a chieftaincy title on Ubah.
In a four-minute video clip yesterday, Ezeani said he understood the reason for his suspension and tendered an unreserved apology for the infraction “without obtaining appropriate clearances” from relevant authorities.
“I want to offer my profound, unreserved apology with all sincerity and humility to the government of Anambra State and the Governor, Charles Soludo,” he said.
Ezeani is the Chairperson of the Anambra Central District Traditional Rulers Council.
The suspended monarch also appealed to the governor to forgive any traditional ruler in the council who may have committed similar offences in the past.
He said he would not want his offence to affect the relationship that exists between the Neni Community and the state government.
Meanwhile, the President of Non-Indigenous Stakeholders Association (ANISA), Great Ugwuoke, has justified the opposition of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Anambra State government to the conferment of “Ikemba Neni” chieftaincy title on Ubah.
Ugwuoke equally noted that the indefinite suspension of Ezeani by the state government is to serve as a deterrent to those who, in the future, may want to covet the title.
Recall that the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, Tony Nwabunwanne, in a letter with reference number MLGCCA/HC/2022/T/025/001/103, dated January 8, 2024, and copied to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra and Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Anambra State, accused the monarch of breach of Code of Conduct of monarchs and Section 2(C) of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers (Amendment) Law 2022.
Ugwuoke wondered why the Igwe’s cabinet did not weigh the consequences of the monarch’s action after IPOB had scuttled the move by the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, to confer “Ikemba Nnewi” title on same Ubah few weeks ago.
According to him, the fate of the monarch is self-inflicted, knowing full well the position of the state government that such chieftaincy title should not be conferred by a traditional ruler on a recipient outside his town/community without obtaining clearance from the ministry and at curtailing abuses in honorary recognitions.
