The lawmaker representing Anambra South senatorial district at the senate, Ifeanyi Ubah, has described the suspension of the traditional ruler of a community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, HRM Igwe Damian Ezeani, as a result of Governor Carles Soludo’s envies towards him, over the Chieftaincy title conferred on him, by the traditional ruler.
Ubah who disclosed this while reacting to the suspension of the royal father, during a telephone interview with the Daily Post, noted that Soludo is afraid of his growing popularity.
The traditional leader had during the Yuletide, conferred on Senator Ubah, the title of Odenjinji of Neni, which is similar to the title Soludo holds in his Isuofia community.
However, Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, in a suspension letter, accused HRM Igwe Damian Ezeani of not seeking clearance from the state government before bestowing titles on people, including ‘persons with questionable character.’
Reacting to the development, Ubah said “The entire game is all about politics. Soludo is frustrated by my rising popularity.
“I’m not the only person to receive a chieftaincy title. Former Chief of Army Staff Buratai was honoured within the same period; Vice President Kashim Shettima was also honoured; Mr President was honoured in absentia. Why is my own different?”
He added, “The governor is frustrated by my acceptance and popularity; he is jittery about the next governorship election, but I leave him to his conscience.”
Some political observers who study how political events unfold have speculated that Ubah’s defection to the All Progressives Congress from the Young Progressives Party in October 2023, might have set off an alarm about a possible alliance between him and some other political players from the state, to unseat Soludo in the 2025 governorship election.
However, this may have possibly raised some emotions among members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the state government, hence the reaction towards the royal father.
