Three traditional rulers in Anambra State have officially withdrawn the chieftaincy titles conferred on the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, following the controversy trailing the conferment of chieftaincy titles.
The traditional rulers are Igwe F.E. Ebelendu of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata local government area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani of Neni in Anaocha local government area and Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu of Ojoto in Idemili South local government area.
Igwe Mbamalu conferred Ikemba Ojoto on Ubah, Igwe Ezeani conferred on him the Odenjiinji Neni, while Igwe Ebelendu gave him Dike Eji Eje Ogu.
Since the exercise, the embattled monarchs have been facing a lot of criticism from their subjects and the state government for their actions, which forced them to make a u-turn.
Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime, in a statement, said the monarchs have respectively apologized to the Anambra State government and withdrawn and cancelled the chieftaincy titles conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, because it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers’ law.
Aburime’s statement read in part: “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the titles of Ikemba Ojoto, Odenjiinji Neni and Dike Eji Eje Ogu earlier bestowed on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have been withdrawn and cancelled by the three Igwes.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.”
Recall that Senator Ubah had late last year joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), and he is rumoured to be nursing governorship ambition to challenge the incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in next year’s election.
Shortly after his defection to APC, Ubah began to receive invitations for chieftaincy titles from many traditional rulers in the state, a development the state government frowned at.
Following the suspension of one of the traditional rulers, Igwe Ezeani of Neni, by the state government, for conferring a chieftaincy title on Ubah, others hurriedly withdrew their own titles on Ubah and wrote the state government that they had done so.
