Rochas sacks two Traditional Rulers

The Imo State govern­ment yesterday an­nounced the dethrone­ment of two traditional rulers.

The deposed monarchs are Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, who was the tradi­tional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Govern­ment Area, and Eze Cosmos Ony­eneke, the traditional ruler of Lagwa Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

According to a statement signed by Professor A.G. Anwukah, Secretary to the government of Imo State, the de­position was done in accordance with Sections 11 and 14 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Autonomous Com­munities Law No 6 of 2006.

“His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (OON), has approved the withdrawal of certificates of recognized tradi­tional rulers of Obinugwu and Lagwa Autonomous Communities, respec­tively,” the statement said.

The Imo government directed secretaries of the Community Gov­ernment Council of the respective autonomous communities to liaise with the government on behalf of the territories, “pending the selection and presentation of an Eze-elect in accor­dance with the custom and constitu­tion of each of the affected Autono­mous Communities.”

Earlier yesterday, Eze Ilomunanya, accompanied by leader of the Move­ment for the Actualization of the Sov­ereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, Chief Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Chuma Nnaji, had inspected office block and facili­ties within the complex of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Later at a press conference, he praised the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and justice by re-instating him as the bona fide chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rul­ers after what he called the illegal and unconstitutional dissolution of the council by Governor Rochas Okoro­cha on June 6, 2011.

“I did not go to court because I was a hungry man, but to protect the integ­rity of the traditional institution in the state, because if the unlawful action of the state government had gone un­challenged, it would become a norm. The law that established Imo Council of Traditional Rulers is very clear, as the only way that the chairman of the council could be replaced before his tenure of office lapses, is either by death or voluntary resignation, or if he is indicted for any criminal activ­ity. But I was never indicted for any offence and I was elected for a tenure of five years.” Recall that Eze Ilo­munanya had filed a suit against the Imo State government following his removal from office three years ago before he was reinstated by the court last week.