Achebe particularly expressed anger over the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, lgwe Damian O. Ezeani, who recently conferred a chieftaincy title on the Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah.

Anambra State Government had last week, through the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tony Nwabunwanne, suspended the traditional ruler of Neni.

Reacting to the suspension,  Achebe, who is the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, said in a press statement on Wednesday that the state government should respect the traditional institution.

In the 14-point letter, Achebe bemoaned the dimension that was taken by the state government in the suspension of Ezeani.

The letter with the caption, ‘Notification for the suspension of HRH lgwe Damian O. Ezeani, the Traditional Ruler of Neni’, was signed by the monarch for and on behalf of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers.

It read, “I am writing in response to your letter, Ref: MLGCCA/HC/2022/T/025/001/103, of the above caption to me dated January 8, 2024. This response also provides a fuller context of other events relating to the suspension of H.R.H. Igwe Damian O Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni. Your letter was hand-delivered to me at Onitsha at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

“I was curious about the timing of the delivery considering that I had presided at the meeting of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council at Awka earlier in the day, where such a letter would normally be presented to me by the ASTRC secretariat. The letter was a justification for the government’s suspension of lgwe Damian Ezeani as the traditional ruler of his domain.

“My suspicion that your letter was an afterthought was buttressed by the fact that your letter of suspension to lgwe Damian Ezeani of the same date, January 8, 2024, was already trending virally on social media for well over 24 hours prior to my receipt of your letter.

“I was embarrassingly inundated with phone calls and messages from traditional rulers and other persons seeking clarification from me as chairman of ASTRC regarding a situation to which I was not privy. Your letter to lgwe Damian Ezeani was copied to the Commissioner of Police and Director of DSS, Anambra State, but not to the chairman of the ASTRC.

“This act, amongst many others, was seen by the traditional rulers of Anambra State as a measure of the worth of the traditional institution to the present administration.”

Achebe detailed concerns about the selective application of the Code of Conduct for traditional rulers, the delayed presentation of key documents, and perceived disrespect towards the traditional institution, alleging a progressive dehumanisation of the traditional rulers by the current administration.

“Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is not an unknown entity in Anambra State or Nigeria, including to the present administration. Thus, the suspension of lgwe Neni and the threat to withdraw his Certificate of Recognition for apparently violating the Code of Conduct by giving him a chieftaincy title was extreme in comparison with other recent cases,” he added.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, Igwe F.E. Ebelendu; traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian and the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu, have withdrawn the chieftaincy titles they conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

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Okonjo-Iweala made the call in her keynote address to the South-East Summit on Security and Economy, which kicked-off in Owerri on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the two-day summit is “South East Beyond 2023, Time for a Reset.”Okonjo-Iweala said: “We no longer have solidarity, instead we are fragmented as a people and that has made us to forget how to support each other. If our big problem is ourselves, it means that the solution also lies in our hands.”

The WTO boss underscored the need for the region to improve its internally generated revenue, keep the borrowing down and improve on capital expenditures. She asked: “Governors, state legislatures and local government chairs must continuously ask themselves, are we using our FAC allocation wisely, transparently and effectively?“ Can we generate more revenue internally and how do we do it, while so motivating our productive sectors and factors? Are we taking on too much debts? Are we even spending the amount borrowed effectively?”

Okonjo-Iweala advised the region to seize the opportunity of the privatisation in the electricity sector to look towards solar and gas solutions as a way to improve the situation of power supply.

“I want to suggest that we convene a South-East investment forum, not for people from outside the region or abroad but for our own Igbo business people. In this forum, we should examine what is blocking greater investment in the South-East region and what we can do to block these leakages,” she further said.

She emphasised the need for the region to consider diversifying and attracting investments in the supply chain of pharmaceuticals, fertilisers,  labour intensive industries and digital technology.

She also advised the stakeholders to take advantage of the benefits in digital trade for micro, small and medium enterprises, online education, health and accounting services.

Okonjo-Iweala urged the region to draw from its diaspora resources to build on the health sector. “I am sure the South-East governors, coming together, can do some financial engineering and find a way to float a South-East diaspora bond or fund to capture some loans and tenured to financing some development priorities,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the South-East Traditional Rulers, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, commended the South-East governors for organising the summit. Achebe said, “the complex security situation in the zone and the economic strangulation of the zone, arising from the insecurity, have greatly affected major markets in the area.

”The traditional ruler further expressed the need to set a peculiar agenda for the people shared by all stakeholders above partisanship. He also advocated the need to focus on strategic economic development, organised regional security and rebirth of the Igbo nation through revisiting and repositioning of Igbo values.

Earlier in an address of welcome, the former Senate President and Chairman of the summit, Anyim Pius Anyim, said the event aimed at sending clear message to diaspora and Nigerians.

“We are here to send a clear message to our people at home and abroad, and our fellow Nigerians that the Igbo nation strives to become more coercive in order to be more effective in contributing its quota in the search for national consensus on equity, peace and development,” he said.

He said the summit was not intended to dish out directives to the governors but create a platform for sharing of new ideas and understanding on areas of collaboration and integration.

Anyim, however, said that since 1999, the attention of governments shifted, adding that “no government in the South-East had considered it needful to service industrial corridors and attract investors to set up factories.

“The implication is that unemployment rate had multiplied and could be the reason for the upsurge of crime and criminality in the zone. We need to rethink our developmental priorities,” he said, while calling for the re-engineering of the entrepreneurship sector and realignment of the educational system with the regional needs.

The Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Sen. Chris Anyanwu, thanked the delegates from the region to the summit.

According to Anyanwu, the summit, which attracted the five South-East governors, religious, cultural and traditional leaders, is expected to set agenda for the region’s accelerated economic transformation, social harmony and effective security.

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The VP stated this during a one-day visit to Anambra State to launch the second phase of TraderMoni, a federal government micro-credit scheme for petty traders.

While describing the second Niger bridge project as a priority to President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the country remained united, where nobody would be oppressed.

He said, “We are all brothers regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. We want to make sure that even in terms of execution of projects, we are fair and just, which is the commitment that the president has made. The President is committed to ensuring that he brings this to fulfilment.”

The VP, who inspected the Delta State axis of the Second Niger Bridge, reassured the people that the Federal Government was committed to completing the project and the access roads.

He said, ”We want to make sure that we complete it because of its economic benefit to the zone and the entire country.

“The Second Niger Bridge is among the five projects where money has actually been set aside under a Presidential funding initiative to ensure completion. So, we have no fears that it will be completed as promised and scheduled,” he added.

He expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Federal Government’s Home-Grown-School-Feeding programme in the state.

He added, “As a matter of fact, we visited a lady in Awka, one of the cooks, who happened to be the best cook of the programme in the community.”

Speaking, the Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano, hailed the Federal Government’s TraderMoni and MarketMoni initiatives.

He said the scheme would encourage the culture of repayment of loans and ensure the prosperity of traders.

The governor commended the Federal Government’s zeal towards the ongoing Second Niger Bridge and the completed Zik Mausoleum.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, suggested that the Federal Government should set up a Board of Trustees to manage the affairs of the Zik Mausoleum.

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The Governor, who spoke at the Eko Hotels and Suites at the presentation of Museum Possibilities as well as the unveiling of the design for a new world class Museum, also disclosed that the State Government will soon commence the construction of a brand new contemporary Museum in the State as an integral part of its overall strategy to become self-sufficient and secure the future prosperity of the State.

He lamented that despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed with very rich culture and heritage, the culture and traditions upon which the social institutions and interactions are built have been neglected, saying youths do not have a strong appreciation of the nation’s history over the years.

He said his administration decided to lead the process that would deliver a new world class Museum that would showcase the priceless treasures of Nigeria, adding that the project will be funded by the State Government and other well-meaning donors, interested organisations and individuals.

“Every society must cherish its historical antecedents because they serve as source of inspiration for succeeding generations to discover, appreciate and take pride in their identity. It has become very imperative that we take a step back and revisit our history. It has become important that we renew efforts to preserve and protect our history and historical artefacts.

“This project will serve generations of Nigerians now and in the future. Our plan is to harness the potentials in our rich cultural heritage to drive tourism in Lagos State,” Governor Ambode said.

He said aside the plans for the new museum, the State Government had already taken the project to revive the Museum in Onikan, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture especially the Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Explaining the plans to transform the Onikan and Marina axis to a world class tourism and entertainment hub, Governor Ambode said that the Presidential Lodge, Marina which was recently handed over to the State by President Muhammadu Buhari, would be redeveloped into the Lagos Heritage Centre for Leadership.

“In addition, the Lagos House also in Marina will be transformed into the Lagos Historical Centre. The JK Randle Arcade will be remodeled into a world class recreation/tourism centre. The New Museum will complement and be an important part of the structures being planned for this axis. We intend to regenerate this axis and the museum into an iconic structure that will invoke deep sense of pride in all Nigerians.

“This is the new possibility that is being presented to all stakeholders in the tourism sector and all Nigerians. On our part, our commitment is unshaken and we are eager to make this dream a reality within the shortest possible time. Given the mega city status of our State, we believe this is the right way to go in order to optimally harness the State’s tourism potentials for wealth creation and sustainable growth,” the Governor said.

Governor Ambode, while also thanking President Buhari for the fatherly role he has played on behalf of the nation in the partnership, expressed confidence that through the effort, the Government would realise the huge possibilities that flow from the preservation and showcasing the nation’s cultural heritage to the world.

Also speaking, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed commended the State Government’s effort to create an enabling environment for tourism and the creative industry to thrive especially in the areas of security, light infrastructure and transportation.

He said the Federal Government has also set up a Presidential Special Committee of E-Business to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria, especially in the area of visa issuance, so as to encourage investors, tourists and visitors coming into the country.

Among those who graced the occasion include the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu I, Obi f of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Guy Bruce, veteran art aficionado, Bruce Onobrakpeya, art collector extraordinaire, Omoba Yemisi Shyllon, stakeholders in the creative industry, members of the diplomatic corp among others.

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The group took the decision at a post-summit meeting of the group held at the Gregory University, Uturu (GUU) in Abia on Saturday. 22, usoditah

The resolution articulates short term, mid-term and long term strategic ‘plans to “comprehensively tackle the development of Igboland” and promote the wellbeing of the people.

It also strives to persuade Igbo entrepreneurs and investors in Nigeria and Diaspora to think-home and invest in Igboland.

The motion for the adoption of the document was moved by the Director-General of the group, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, seconded by a former governor of Anambra, Dr Chukwuemaka Ezeife.

Prominent Igbo citizens at the meeting included the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, a former Gov. of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

Others at the meeting were former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof. Joe Irukwu, and former Secretary-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Joe Achuzie as well as a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

Others in attendance were former ministers of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and, Dr Ihechukwu Maduike, former Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr George Obiozor, and retired Maj-Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, who chaired the meeting.

They said that Ndigbo had held enough conferences and summits on how to achieve economic prosperity and that it was time to put the recommendations and road maps into concrete action.

They stressed the need for Igbo entrepreneurs and investors in other parts of the country and other parts of the world to come home and invest.

They said such a measure would boost the current struggle to achieve economic power for the Igbo nation.

The meeting expressed gratitude to the facilitator of WISG and chancellor of GUU for his untiring efforts in galvanising the group with a view to moving the Igbo nation to the next level.

In her contribution, Onwuliri called for collective effort to save Igbo Language from dying.

She pointed out the preference of Igbo people for other Nigerian languages and English Language to Igbo Language further endangered the language.

Onwuliri called for concerted efforts by wealthy Igbo people to invest in education by establishing universities and other higher institutions of learning in the Southeast.

She expressed worry that although youths of the area ranked tops in the number of candidates seeking university admission annually, the zone had the lowest number of federal, state and private universities.

The Chancellor of GUU, Dr Gregory Ibe, underscored the need for the zone to encourage the study of engineering courses in higher institutions of learning.

Ibe said that most state polytechnics had ceased to offer engineering courses and as such the students opted more for the social sciences and business courses.

He said that the trend portend a bleak future for the envisioned technological development of the area, if urgent steps were not taken to reverse the situation.

The Obi of Onitsha, Achebe, advocated the formulation of a strategic framework for the development of future leaders for Ndigbo.

He urged the summit to articulate a conscious module on how to evolve transformational leaders for the sustainable development of the Igboland.

The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nwodo, advocated the use of diplomacy rather than violence in the pursuit of the Igbo agenda.

He called for unity of purpose and commitment to the cause of a united and prosperous Igbo ethnic nationality among various pan-Igbo organisations at home and in Diaspora.

He decried the continued harassment, attacks and massacre of unarmed agitators for the Igbo cause by security agents.

A former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, remarked that the present Igbo leadership was gradually bowing out of the stage and admonished the youth to begin to prepare themselves to take over the mantle of leadership.

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