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President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, on Thursday, received some Anambra traditional rulers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Governor Willie Obiano had earlier handed a one-year suspension to the monarchs, for travelling out of the state without permission.
The monarchs were led by billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, included HRM Eze Dr Nkeli Nzekwe, HRM Igwe Chuba Mbakwe, HRM Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, HRH Igwe Anthony Onwekwelu and HRH Igwe Chukwuma Bobo Orji.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, Gambari thanked the traditional rulers for coming, adding that the gesture would encourage the President to do even more for the region and the country as a whole.
He said, “This is an incentive for the President to do more for the country, and also for the South East.”
The royal fathers listed the projects embarked upon by President Buhari in their region to include “the Second Niger Bridge, that had been presented as an impossible task by previous administrations, but now becoming a reality under your keen watch, the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, among others.
“The people of the South East are, indeed, grateful, as we have never had it so good, and on their behalf, we say daalu (thank you).”
Suspended traditional rulers reject Obi of Onitsha, label Obiano govt ‘draconian’
Meanwhile, the embattled traditional rulers, under the aegis of concerned traditional rulers, have described their suspension by Governor Willie Obiano as charade and abuse of power.
Speaking on behalf of the 12 suspended traditional rulers, HRH Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, Igwe Nawfia, said: “We state categorically that we have not committed any act to warrant being suspended.
“This is to say the least an abuse of power and high handedness by the Igwe in connivance with the state government that has become increasingly desperate as the Governor Willie Obiano administration winds to a close.”
Igwe Nwankwo said there was nothing wrong in visiting President Muhammadu Buhari.
He queried: “What was wrong about our commendational visit to President Mohammadu Buhari on the good things he has been doing for the South East Zone and the Igbos to be precise?
“We also thanked him for the appointment of notable Igbo sons and daughters into important positions in government since he became President. Is this an offense?
“The Second Niger bridge had been presented as an impossible task by previous administrations but it is now becoming a reality under his watch as it is almost nearing completion. And we also appreciated him for this.
“We know that the project is very dear to our hearts because it is a key component of boosting business activities between the people of the South East and the entire country. Where did we go wrong here?
“The Enugu- Onitsha expressway that the Buhari administration is rehabilitating is another magnificent reason we went to thank the president.”
He said because of what the President has done, they felt that it was incumbent on them to express their appreciation to him on behalf of the entire people of the area and to urge him to do more for the zone.
The traditional rulers said: “Where have we committed a crime in these laudable efforts? On what ground is the Igwe and the state government now witch hunting us?
“All what we have done were in exercise of our fundamental human rights and we emphasis that no one can take that from us.
“Freedom of speech, freedom of movements are all enshrined in our constitution and grand norm. Any attempt against these would amount to muzzling the traditional institutions and we cannot accept that.
“The state government premised its action on the pretext that the traditional rulers did not obtain permission from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.This lame reason shows how bereft of ideas and how draconian the state government has become. Is there anywhere in our laws where freedom of movements by anyone is restricted within or outside the country?”
In their recommendations, the traditional rulers rejected the Obi of Onitsha as chairman of traditional rulers council, saying: “Following this high handedness and dictatorship, we the concerned traditional rulers of Anambra hereby suspend the chairman of the Anambra state traditional rulers Council, HRH Igwe Alfred Achebe.”