Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Friday, dethroned three traditional rulers out of 12 suspended earlier this year.
According to a statement signed by Greg Obi, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, the monarchs whose certificate of recognition were withdrawn include Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA), Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle in Anambra West LGA and Igwe G. B. C Mbakwe of Abacha, Idemili north.
The three, Blueprint recalled, were among the eleven traditional rulers suspended for allegedly travelling to Abuja with an oil magnate Arthur Eze without obtaining permission. One, Igwe Peter Uyanwa of Ukwulu was earlier suspended.
Obi, in the statement, directed the dethroned monarchs to submit their certificates of recognition to the Secretary of the local government of their communities within a month of the announcement.
He, however, lifted the suspension of five traditional rulers among the 12 namely Igwe Simon Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo, Igwe A.N Onwuneme of Ikenga, Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor, Igwe Chukwuma Bob Vincent Orji of Ezinifite and Igwe S.O Uche of Ezira.
The governor also added that the one year suspension of Igwe Kelly N. Nkeli of Igbariam, Igwe Dr. Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu and Igwe Peter Uyanwa of Ukwulu would continue subject to what it termed “future review as may be necessary.”
However, when contacted, the traditional ruler of Nawfia, Njikoka LGA, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, dismissed the news that he was dethroned saying, “Yes. I am still the Igwe”.
Blueprint reports that the statement was silent on the two monarchs from Aguleri-Otu and Eziagulu-Otu, Anambra East LGA whose communities had crowned substantive traditional rulers without any government reactions on whether they would be provided with certificate of recognition or not.
