Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has forgiven the traditional rulers that violated their code of conduct by conferring traditional titles on some individuals without following the due process.
He forgave them during a meeting he held with them at the Government House, Awka, on Tuesday.
About 94 traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who attended the meeting, stated their resolve to support Soludo’s administration in its efforts to transform Anambra ‘into a livable and prosperous homeland’.
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Soludo’s Press Secretary, Chris Aburime, stated that, “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).
“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.”