The All Progressive Congress (APC), South East zone, has condemned in strong terms the suspension of the paramount ruler of Neni Community, HRH Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani by the Soludo administration for conferring a chieftaincy title on the Senator representing Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
The party also condemned the arrest of the favourite for the Arochukwu traditional stool in Abia state, Godwin Kanu Idei, over allegations of impersonation.
Describing the vilification of the monarchs as an aberration and affront on the traditional stool, the zonal chairman of the party, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, in a statement on Wednesday, decried the actions of the Abia and Anambra state governments as an attempt to make Igbo crowns and stools an appendage of the APGA led government of Anambra and the LP government in Abia, respectively.
He, therefore, called on the pan Igbo group, Ohanaeze NdiIgbo, as well as prominent Igbos all over the country as well Nigerians to rise up and condemn such acts because it undermined the tradition of NdiIgbo.
“We received with shock the recent suspension of an esteemed traditional ruler, HRH Damian Onwuamaeze Ezeani, the Igwe of Neni Community. At first, we thought there was some untruth in the story until its confirmation.
“This came coupled with the arrest and illegal detention of the acclaimed Eze Aro of Arochukwu kindgom, Godwin Kanu Idei, for impersonation even though Idei had been rightfully crowned as the Eze Aro by the traditional ruler of Ibom Isii, Eze Nwa Kanu.
“It is indeed sad and is deserving of full condemnation such an aberrational affront against Igbo traditional institutions which we should cherish and nurture, rather than drag into the mud.
“What is Igwe Neni’s offence? That he conferred a title on a Senator of APC extraction? Is he the first to have done so? Or is it merely politics, otherwise can we not see this as a move to make the prestigious crowns and stools in Anambra state as an appendage of the APGA led administration?
“What are the offences of the Eze Ibom Isii or Eze Idei that the Abia state government under Alex Otti has to suspend the former and arrest the latter when they were just carrying out their duties as custodians of our tradition. It is obvious that Otti is trying to impose the other person, one Pastor Eberechukwu Oji who is unpopular with Ndi Arochukwu on the people.
“We thus call on Igbos all over the world, and the leadership of the pan Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other Igbo groups, likewise well meaning Nigerians to call the administrations of Chukwuma Soludo and Alex Otti to order.
“Will a Yoruba governor treat a first class traditional ruler in such manner or Fulani leader? The Eze Aro remains about the oldest traditional stool in Igbo land. It is highly revered and should not be desecrated by the governor in his political mix-up. The Aro kingdoms far predates the coming of the white man and colonial era. It’s not an autonomous community, created by any government,” the statement reads.
