Ndi-Anambra Worldwide ( The Anambra State Association World-Wide-(ASA-World) urges the Executive Governor of its State to proceed with caution in his dealings with their traditional rulers and the custodians of their traditions, culture and values.
We, Ndi-Anambra Diaspora recognize the enormous power that the Nigeria’s constitutional government bestowed upon the respective Executive Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but appeal to our Governor to be mindful of the fact that Ndi-Igbo had our traditions, culture and values prior to the constitutional government that bestowed these powers to the Executive Governors over the traditional rulers.
Our traditions, culture, and values are, after all, who we are. Any drift and / or adulteration of who we are may prove to be irreversible and severely detrimental to us all, especially our traditions and culture when the dust is settled.
Governors come and go. Our traditions remain. Traditional rulers for the most part, remain unchanged until their death at which in our traditions and culture a dead Eze or Igwe is assumed to have gone on a special journey over time and to a culturally specified destination. Ndi-Igwes are replaced over time following certain traditional rituals.
In most towns, Igwes and / or Ezes are inherited. Others are elected. For the most part, governors come and go, but Ndi-Igwes and Ndi-Eze remain unchanged until their demise.
Governors return home to their respective towns after their reigns, “maka na akufesia, odalu awo.”
It is our understanding that our traditional rulers, the Igwes and the Ezes, operate under strict structure designed by the traditional council of Ndi-Igwes.There must be policies and procedures governing Ndi-Igwes and Ndi-Eze. A mechanism designed by Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze for regulating themselves, and when there. The constitutional leadership do have the option to intervene on the invitation of Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze when there is a need for intervention by the Governor.
Ndi-Anambra Worldwide sees the Executive Governor Micro-managing the affairs of Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze without substantial just cause as an affront to our traditions, culture and values.
We are therefore respectfully appealing to our Executive Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to please excise similar cautions the Western and the Northern Governors excise in dealing with their “Emirs and the Obas” that are to them, the custodians of their respective traditions, cultures and values.
Certainly bestowing chieftancy titles to the deserving illustrious sons and daughters from “chiefs to Lolo” by Ndi-Igwe and Ndi-Eze at their annual “Ofalas” has been the tradition from time immemorial. It’s within their majestic roles to select the inductees and/or have members of his cabinet nominate inductees for coronation to chieftaincy at their ” Annual Ofalas” without approval of “the government of the day”. It is the responsibility of Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze to vett their nominees for coronation to chieftaincy.
No doubt, Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze do use the coronation process to raise funds, but as my good friend would lightly put it, “Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze ana Ata ntu”? They must. In other words, “let Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze breathe.”
The optics of Micro-management of our Ndi-Igwe na Ndi-Eze is dire to the future of our traditions, culture, and value systems. The consequences moving forward are the erosion of the mystics and the respect accorded to our traditions, culture, and by the outsiders. Let’s not belittle ourselves “maka na onye kpata nku aru ru, silu ngwele pukwuteya (gha) oli l
