The crisis of confidence between the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has taken a worse turn as the Governor, who has been a regular guest at the annual Onitsha Ofala Festival, shunned the 2024 edition on Friday.
His absence is part of the growing gap between Governor Soludo and Anambra elite.
Soludo, as a guest of the 2023 Onitsha Ofala Festival, promised to partner with the revered Monarch to boost the event but they fell apart after the Governor suspended Igwe Ezeani of Neni for planning to confer a cheiftancy title on late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who was building up momentum to challenge Soludo’s reelection move in the November 8, 2025 Governorship election. Senator Ubah died on July 27, 2024 in London.
The Anambra government had suspended Igwe of Neni alongside two others, drawing the ire of Obi of Onitsha who is the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.
In an open letter to the State government, Igwe Achebe accused Soludo of not respecting traditional institutions in the State.
Parts of the letter by Igwe Achebe read: “The traditional institution of Anambra State feels strongly that the present administration is progressively dehumanizing and deprecating the institution against the trend in the rest of the country, where the Federal and State Governments accord dignity and respect to the institution.
“The traditional institution is mindful of the awesomeness of the executive power and authority in our democratic dispensation, but prays fervently that such powers and authority, which derive from God through the governed, should be exercised with due sensitivity and humaneness over the governed.
“I would like to state very clearly that your handling of this matter of conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles is the apogee of the progressive dehumanization and dismantling of the traditional institution of Anambra State by the present administration. The institution comprises of some of the finest sons of Anambra State who achieved sterling academic heights and professional/vocational attainments. At the behest of their communities, they took up the role of traditional rulers as shining examples for selflessly giving back to their communities in particular, and society at large. They are the custodians of the culture and traditions of their people and lead on peace building, security, development issues”
Soludo later convened a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka, the State capital where he waved olive branch to the traditional rulers but no concerted efforts was made to thaw the relationship.
Speaking at the latest edition of Ofala festival on Friday, Igwe Achebe accused Soludo of undermining the traditional institution, saying that while other States in Nigeria were working towards enhancing the relevance of traditional institutions, Anambra’s is being diminished.
Achebe said he was surprised to discover that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), which he headed, had been dissolved and labeled an illegal group.
According to Igwe Achebe, Director at Cadbury Nigeria Plc and an Executive Director at The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. from 1981 to 1996 and currently the Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria since 2015: “This is most unfortunate at a time when other States, as well as the Federal Government and the National Assembly, are seriously seeking ways to enhance the relevance of the traditional institution in the country.”
He further lamented the ASTRC’s inability to convene to discuss matters of interest to the State, resulting in the traditional institution’s lack of mandate to engage in national or sub-national affairs.
Providing background, Achebe stated: “On January 12, 2024, I was compelled to address a public letter to the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs of Anambra State in my capacity as Chairman of the ASTRC. My letter was in response to the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni and the demand for apologies from two other traditional rulers, communicated via social media by the Ministry.
“Both correspondences generated considerable attention on social media, leading to the discontinuation of the ASTRC’s monthly meetings by the government since March 2024, under the pretext that the ASTRC, previously supervised by the State Government, had suddenly become illegal.”
And with the Governorship election slated for next year, the issue of respect for the traditional institutions is sure going to be a hot topic.