Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Monday stated that the withdrawal of the certificates of recognition of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as the Obi of Obinugwu autonomous community and Eze Cosmas Onyeneke, the paramount ruler of Lagwa in Orlu and Aboh Mbaise council areas of the state respectively, was in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly, which had recommended that they be dethroned as traditional rulers.
In a press statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor stated that the dethronement of the two royal fathers was not personal, but in exercise of the powers conferred on him under the Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters in Imo State Law No. 6 of 2006, following the resolution of 376 and 377 passed by the state Assembly that they be removed forthwith to avoid breakdown of law and order in the respective communities.
The statement read in part: “It should also be recalled that following serious petitions to the Imo State House of Assembly against the two traditional rulers involved by indigenes of their respective communities, the leadership of the Assembly constituted a five-man ad hoc committee to investigate the issues contained in the petitions.”
“As a responsible government, we appreciate the fact that the two people involved are indigenes of the state. But at the end of that exercise, the Assembly not only recommended, but also passed resolutions 376 and 377 respectively on Thursday, December 15, 2011 that the governor should, without delay, remove them as traditional rulers.
In line with its human face posture, the government kept both the report, recommendations and resolutions of the Assembly in abeyance and didn’t dethrone the two traditional rulers immediately as recommended and resolved by the Assembly. Before June 6, 2014, Ilomuanya had stopped attending meetings of the traditional rulers and also stopped attending state functions in breach of Section 14 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities Law and had since three years, relocated to Abuja where he functioned more as a politician.”
Onwuemeodo pointed out that Ilomuanya had always acted as if there is no government in the state which no governor whether military or civilian would tolerate and that his latest action was a slap on the state government by storming the state Secretariat of council of Ndi Eze which is the property of the state government with over two hundred armed policemen and thugs in workers held which created unnecessary panic.
“It is also important to state and categorically too, that by virtue of the removal of Ilomuanya as both the traditional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous Community and as the Chairman of the State Council of traditional rulers, he can no longer parade himself as such. To do so, would tantamount to impersonation”
Meanwhile, in a press statement signed by Eze Cletus Ilomunanya who is also the chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers, described the announcement by the Imo state Government purporting to have withdrawn his certificate of recognition as the Monarch of Obinugwu as ridiculous and laughable.
The Press statement reads in part: “Barely few hours after my resumption of duties, secretary to the Imo state Government, Mr Anthony Anwukah, issued a contemptuous press release purportedly conveying Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Withdrawal of my Certificate of Recognition as a traditional ruler without any reason at all. My offence was that I obeyed court judgements/ orders in a state where disobedience to court orders is glorified.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court of Appeal judgement of July 5, 2013,which affirmed me as the lawful chairman of Imo state council of Ndi-Eze was clear in its judgement wherein it made an order inter alia that an order of injunction restraining the defendants( Governor Okorocha and the Attorney General of Imo state) by themselves, their servants, agents or however from truncating and interfering with the situation of the claimant (myself) as a member of and chairman of Imo state council of Ndi- Eze until the lawful expiration of the said tenure in 2015”.
Photo: Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and Governor Rochas Okorocha
