Three revered traditional rulers in Anambra State have withdrawn chieftaincy titles earlier bestowed upon Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who is representing Anambra South senatorial zone.
The titles, including “Ikemba Ojoto,” “Odenjiinji Neni,” and “Dike Eji Eje Ogu,” were granted by different monarchs, but the tide changed after the state government suspended a traditional ruler for conferring a title on the senator.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s crackdown on the allegedly negligent awarding of titles has prompted the monarchs, including Igwe F.E. Ebelendu, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani, and Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, to issue an apology and withdraw the titles.
The Anambra State Government suspended the traditional ruler of Neni Community, His Royal Highness, Damian Ezeani, Igwe Ugonabo, for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Governor Soludo cited negligence of due process in awarding titles as the reason behind the suspension, reinforcing the ongoing effort to uphold traditional rulers’ laws and practices in the state.
In a press release by the Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Christian Aburime, he said: “The monarchs have respectively apologized to Anambra State Government and withdrawn and cancelled the phantom chieftaincy titles conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers’ law.”
The release further read: “This action by the three traditional rulers was in direct contravention of the State Traditional Rulers’ code, which outlines the rules and regulations regarding the granting and revocation of chieftaincy titles.
“Consequently, the titles of Ikemba Ojoto, Odenjiinji Neni and Dike Eji Eje Ogu earlier bestowed on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have been withdrawn and cancelled by the three Igwes.
“This was contained in their respective letters of apology to the State Government which also confirmed the withdrawal and cancellation of the Chieftaincy titles which they variously described as nullity.”
