Anambra monarch’s suspension envy taken too far, Ubah tells Soludo

The senator representing Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Ifeanyi Ubah has said that Governor Charles Soludo’s decision to suspend a traditional ruler that gave him (Ubah) a chieftaincy title was an envy taken too far.

Daily Trust reports that Soludo suspended HRM Igwe Damian Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area for not seeking clearance from ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters before conferring chieftaincy title on Ubah and others.

A suspension letter by Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, accused HRM Igwe Damian Ezeani of not seeking clearance from the state government before bestowing titles on people, including ‘persons with questionable character.’

The monarch had during the Yuletide conferred on Senator Ubah the title of Odenjinji of Neni, which is similar to the title Soludo also holds in his Isuofia community.

In his reaction, Ubah in a statement made available by his media office, said: “The entire game is all about politics. Soludo is frustrated by my rising popularity. I’m not the only person to receive a chieftaincy title. Former Chief of Army Staff Buratai was honoured within the same period; Vice President Kashim Shettima was also honoured; Mr President was honoured in absentia. Why is my own different?”

Recall that Ubah in October 2023, defected from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the All Progressives Congress, APC and was later received into the party in December, alongside Senator Uche Ekwunife. This action set off an alarm about a possible alliance between the two to unseat Soludo in the 2025 governorship election.