The Anambra State Government has announced the suspension of HRH Igwe Damian O. Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni Town, for breaching the official Code of Conduct that governs traditional rulers in the state.
In a decisive move to uphold the sanctity of the traditional institutions, the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, Mr. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, signed a circular outlining the grounds for Igwe Ezeani’s suspension. The traditional ruler is reported to have conferred a chieftaincy title upon Senator Ifeanyi Ubah without adhering to the established protocol, which mandates obtaining permission from the traditional ruler of the recipient’s community and clearance from the ministry.
The Code of Conduct for Traditional Rulers in Anambra, which is issued and upheld by the traditional rulers themselves, explicitly states that no ruler is to confer chieftaincy titles on individuals from outside their jurisdiction without the necessary permissions. This regulation aims to prevent the misuse of such titles and to ensure the dignity of the traditional institutions is maintained.
The commissioner further stated that it has been observed that a minority of traditional rulers have engaged in the practice of trading chieftaincy titles for monetary gains, an act that has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the esteemed traditional institution.
