Monarch’s suspension, destruction of goods: LP group accuses Soludo of traumatizing Anambra people

A group, Forum of Labour Party (LP) State House of Assembly Candidates, Anambra State, has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of traumatizing the people.

The group said this in a statement signed by its coordinator, Mr. OCN Okafor, while reacting to Soludo’s suspension of Igwe Damian Ezeani of Neni in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state and the destruction of traders’ wares in Awka for trading by the roadside.

It said the governor is playing God, forgetting that power is transient, while giving him 21 days to pay compensation to traders whose goods were destroyed.

“On 8th January 2024; the Government of Anambra State, through the office of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs via a widely circulated letter on media, suspended the Traditional Ruler of Neni community, H.R.H Igwe Damian O. Ezeani, for conferring a Chieftaincy title on a Serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Also on January 16, 2024; there were viral videos on social media of public destruction and burning of goods and wares of some street hawkers in Awka, by men armed with cutlasses and axes, working in the office of Awka Capital Territory Authority.

“We condemn these two actions of the State Government on its citizens, as they are barbaric, inhuman and wicked, and we warn the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo not to throw our dear State into anarchy with his tyrannic tendencies.

“As much as we are not encouraging the disobedience to existing laws in the State; from our investigations, there was no existing law/code of conduct prohibiting Anambra State Traditional Rulers from conferring chieftaincy titles on non-indigenes of their community.

“We commend the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, H.R.M Igwe Dr. Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (CFR) and the House of Representatives member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu for publicly speaking against these intimidations and barbaric acts by the Anambra State Government.

“We request that the State Government should pay compensation to those whose goods were destroyed within 21 days. Failure to do so, we shall encourage our members that their indigenes or residents in the affected Local Governments to seek redress in court.”