The traditional ruler of Umudiawa autonomous community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, has described his recent suspension as monarch as a grave injustice that will not stand.
He also linked his suspension to an award presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, by the Ndigbo Progressive Traditional Rulers Forum, which he leads.
Eze Ofoegbu was recently suspended by the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers on allegations of running a parallel traditional rulers’ forum and for alleged acts of insubordination.
However, addressing journalists at his palace on Sunday, Eze Ofoegbu insisted that due process was not followed in the suspension, maintaining that he neither challenged the government nor violated any rule of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers.
He further alleged that the chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, had ordered him to withdraw the awards given to President Tinubu and Deputy Speaker Kalu, and that his refusal to comply with this directive contributed to his suspension.
According to him, the awards were given in recognition of appointments and projects delivered to Igboland under the current administration.
Eze Ofoegbu also claimed that some traditional rulers in Abia were coerced into signing the suspension letter. He clarified that the Ndigbo Progressive Traditional Rulers Forum is not in conflict with either the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers or the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.
He added that his forum has consistently defended Igbo interests, halted the demolition of properties belonging to Igbos in Lagos, promoted Igbo culture, and worked to protect Igboland from external threats.
“From that day we honoured the President, I started receiving phone calls from different people. The chairman warned me not to give the President an award, saying that I will be suspended,”; he said.
Eze Ofoegbu also alleged that traditional rulers in Abia State do not enjoy unimpeded access to Governor Alex Otti.
