Obiano’s community disowns monarchs for travelling to Abuja

By Nkiru Nwagbo

Governor Willie Obiano’s community has disowned two of its monarchs for joining oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, to Abuja on a visit to see President Muhammadu
Buhari without the approval of the Anambra State helmsman.

The governor’s town, Aguleri, made up of five communities, on Monday staged a protest against two monarchs, Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando and Peter
Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu communities, who joined other 10 traditional rulers in the visit to Abuja.

They called on Obiano to revoke their certificates, stressing that their conduct was disgraceful. Obiano had early last week suspended 12 traditional rulers including Igwe Edozieunoh and Igwe Udoji, out of the 13 who joined Arthur Eze on the trip to Abuja, Daily Times gathered.

The 13th monarch, Igwe Peter Uyanwa of Ukwulu, had earlier been suspended by the governor over a crisis in his community.

Alor, whose monarch Igwe Mac-Anthony Elibe Okonkwo was among the suspended monarchs, had earlier been disowned by the community, with a call
on Obiano to revoke his certificate, despite having tendered apologies for embarking on the trip.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Aguleri indigenes met at Obu Gad, the town square, to protest against the conduct of Igwe Edozieunoh and Igwe Udoji, saying that their conduct could no longer be tolerated.

Elders of Obiano’s community who spoke through Ichie Aruno Odefi called on the governor to remove the two monarchs, saying that their conduct in the town had not only been disgraceful but negates the love the town has for the governor who is also a son of the soil.

“They cannot continue to be monarchs. Aguleri town has five communities, but these very two Igwes have not represented us well. The height of it is joining other
traditional rulers to Abuja to go and report our son, Obiano, to Mr President.

“We have had enough and will no longer take it. If Obiano does not want to remove them, then let them become traditional rulers at the government house, and not for Aguleri communities,” he said.

The Presidents-General of the five communities in Aguleri, who also spoke through Barrister Hippo Onwuegbuke, condemned the two monarchs for joining 11 others in a trip that was allegedly meant to tarnish the image of a son of the soil.

READ ALSO: Traditional ruler apologises to Obiano, pleads for forgiveness

He said, even if they apologised as some other traditional rulers have started doing, the people will not accept their apologies because they are already fed up with their ‘disgraceful’ conduct.

“Look at this crowd that trooped out to protest against them. What will you tell them that will appease them? The best thing is for the monarchs to toe the line of honour and resign their kingships. The people are already calling on Obiano to remove them as you can see.”