Reasons have emerged as to why the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo shunned attending the Ofala Festival marked by the Obi of Onistha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe on Friday, October 18, 2024.
Recall that the Anambra State Governor has been a regular guest at the annual Onitsha Ofala Festival in previous years. However, he was conspicuously absent at the 2024 edition of the festival on Friday.
Soludo, during last year’s edition of the festival, had promised to partner with the monarch to boost the festival.
But things fell apart between Achebe and Soludo when the Governor suspended Igwe Ezeani of Neni.
Igwe Ezeani incurred the wrath of the Governor for conferring a chieftaincy title on the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Recall that Ubah had planned to challenge Soludo’s reelection as Governor of Anambra State before his death in September.
Soludo, however, saw that as a slight on his capacity as the Governor of Anambra State. He, therefore, suspended Igwe Ezeani alongside two others.
That action of the Governor drew the ire of the Obi of Onitsha, who is Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council in Anambra.
In an open letter to the State Government, Achebe accused Soludo of not respecting traditional institutions in the State.
Speaking at the late year’s edition of Ofala festival, Achebe accused Soludo of undermining the traditional institution in the State.
He stated that while other States in Nigeria were working towards enhancing the relevance of traditional institutions, Anambra’s is being diminished.
Achebe also said he was surprised to discover that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), which he headed, had been dissolved and labeled an illegal group.
“This is most unfortunate at a time when other States, as well as the Federal Government and the National Assembly, are seriously seeking ways to enhance the relevance of the traditional institution in the country,” he said.
The Obi of Onitsha further lamented ASTRC’s inability to convene to discuss matters of interest to the State. He noted that this has resulted in the traditional institution’s lack of mandate to engage in national or sub-national affairs.
Providing background, Achebe stated, “On January 12, 2024, I was compelled to address a public letter to the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs of Anambra State in my capacity as Chairman of the ASTRC. My letter was in response to the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni and the demand for apologies from two other traditional rulers, communicated via social media by the Ministry.
“Both correspondences generated considerable attention on social media. Leading to the discontinuation of the ASTRC’s monthly meetings by the government since March 2024. Under the pretext that the ASTRC, previously supervised by the State Government, had suddenly become illegal.”
Soludo later conveyed a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the State. He used the occasion of the meeting to extend olive branch to the traditional ruler.
source: Daily Trust
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