Suspension saga: I won’t confer Chieftaincy titles again without your consent — Nawfia Monarch begs Soludo

By Raymond Ozoji,  Awka

The traditional ruler of Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Daniel Ogochukwu Obelle, has apologised to the State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, for flouting the code of conduct guiding the conferment of chieftaincy titles in the state.

The Traditional ruler tendered the apology in a press statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Awka.

The statement read in part, “My attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne alluding to some Ndi Igwe in Anambra State that recently conferred chieftaincy awards on certain personalities without clearance from the state government.

“I wish to state that as a newcomer to the royal throne of Nawfia Community, I was not aware of the existence of the circular in question. Besides, I am not a member of the State Traditional Rulers Council where the said circular was issued.

“In peculiar circumstances. I declare my unalloyed loyalty to Mr. Governor Prof C. C. Soludo, CFR, and my unreserved apology for the omission of not obtaining his approval before conferring the chieftaincy awards on deserving citizens who were thoroughly screened before the awards were bestowed on them.

“Sir, it’s pertinent to state that the chieftaincy awards and commendation certificates are intended to motivate and galvanise indigenes and non-indigenes of Nawfia towards community development.

“As partners in uplifting Anambra State to make it liveable and secure, Mr. Gvernor, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem and respect,” Igwe Obelle appealed.It was gathered that in a release signed by the State Commissioner for Local overnment, Chieftaincy and Cmmunity Affairs Mr Tony-Collins Nawbunwanne said th Governor’s directive to sspend Traditional rulers that confer Chieftancy titles to some persons without Gvernment approval is in exrcise of his powers under Section Two (C) of the Aambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2020 as amended.

The statement explained tht the directive was because of the violation of the Traditional Rulers Code of Conduct.

According to the statement, the Code of conduct for traditional rulers in Anambra State provides that no traditional ruler can confer Chieftaincy title on anyone outside his community without obtaining the permission of the traditional ruler of the recipient community while the state government has equally issued a directive to the effect that no such Chieftaincy title should be conferred by any traditional ruler on a recipient outside his community without obtaining clearance from the ministry.

It explained that the regulations and measures are to among other things prevent abuses and trading of chieftaincy titles for money thereby bringing the traditional institution to disrepute.