The Traditional Ruler of Umudiawa Autonomous Community, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, has dismissed his purported suspension by the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council as “null and void,” asserting that he committed no offense to warrant such action. Speaking during an interview with journalists at his Umudiawa Palace on Sunday, Eze Ofoegbu claimed his suspension stemmed from his decision to honor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for developmental strides in the South East.
Eze Ofoegbu, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ndigbo Progressives Traditional Rulers Forum, explained that his “offense” was presenting an award to President Tinubu through the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, recognizing the president’s contributions to the region. He defended the action, stating it was within the forum’s rights to encourage further development in the South East. “It is within our purview to do so to enable the president to do more for the region,” Ofoegbu said.
The traditional ruler also used the platform to highlight challenges faced by traditional rulers in Abia State, revealing that they are denied the 5 percent funds allocated to local government councils for their operations. He noted that this financial constraint hampers their ability to address critical issues, such as insecurity, in their communities.
The suspension of Eze Ofoegbu was earlier announced by Eze Linus Mba, Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, who cited alleged insubordination as the reason for the action. However, Ofoegbu’s rejection of the suspension has sparked debates about the autonomy of traditional rulers and their role in regional development.
The situation remains unresolved, with calls for dialogue between the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council and Eze Ofoegbu to clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspension and address the concerns raised.
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