Not all Imo traditional rulers comply with Okorocha’s directive

When the present administration in Imo State under the leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came on board one year ago, it said its main intention was to transform all sectors of the state. This is why on assumption of office on 29th May, 2011, Governor Okorocha, in his […]

When the present administration in Imo State under the leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came on board one year ago, it said its main intention was to transform all sectors of the state.

This is why on assumption of office on 29th May, 2011, Governor Okorocha, in his maiden address to Imo people, directed all traditional rulers in the state to live within their native  domain and monitor what is going on there. The Governor emphasised that any traditional ruler that has any business outside the state should appoint a regent who would act on his behalf in administering the affairs of the  community.

Okorocha warned the native rulers to always operate from their various communities rather than from the city, explaining that the idea was to enable every traditional ruler to, not only have full knowlegde of his subjects but also be able to make holistic supervision and monitoring of happenings in the communities.

Governor Okorocha’s directive almost coincided with the sudden removal of the former chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, and the subsequent appointment of Eze Samuel Ohiri as the new chairman of the traditional institution in the state.

In line with Okorocha’s intention to transform the traditional institution in the state, the Governor also removed the former vice chairman in the three senatorial zones made up of Owerri,Okigwe and Orlu respectively.

Already, Sunday Trust learnt that not all the native rulers are following the Governor’s directive, but a majority of them are complying with the Governor’s directive. Right now, the native rulers, according to our reliable source, reside within their communities. Those who still reside outside their native domains are those who have one business or the other to do outside, but have appointed  regents to take care of their communities during their absence, the source said.

Our reporter observed that this is the first time government attention is being focused on the administration of traditional rulers in various communities in the state. The essence is to make sure communities are properly taken care of by the native rulers. With this development, communities in the state have received government attention with the special recognition given to the traditional rulers unlike what obtained in previous administrations.

One important thing the Okorocha-led government succeeded in achieving is to give communities in the state a sense of belonging through the traditional rulers. This is  in view of the recent creation of 4th tier government known as Community Development Government (CDG). The current policy gives the traditional rulers the power to head the community government in administering the affairs of their areas especially in total development of the communities. Since the introduction of the CDG, the state government appears to carry the traditional rulers along in whatever the regime  does concerning the communities.

This situation, Okorocha said, made it compulsory for every community to have a traditional ruler, although he insisted that where a community failed to produce its Eze, such community stands to be merged with a neighbouring community. Since then it became a serious issue for every community particularly those that have been given recognition by the state government but yet to produce their native rulers; they now struggle to avoid being merged with others.

The advantage is that any community that has its traditional ruler in place would be in better position to represent itself in the palace of traditional rulers when discussing issues concerning the affairs of communities in the state.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print) Ebere Uzoukwa said there has been high level of compliance with the Governor’s directive by the traditional rulers in the state. He said Okorocha has made traditional rulers part of his government adding that with the introduction of the Community Development Government (CDG) the traditional rulers are going to play a vital role as the heads of the community government in their various areas.

In his words, Eze Thomas Obiefula, the Okairuru Umudioka Ancient Kingdom in Orlu Local Government Areas of Imo State and the National President, Association of Royal Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, said the “governor’s directive is a serious one. Most of the traditional rulers have adjusted and are in tune with the directive. That is why most of them today reside in their domains except few who are taking risks by not yet complying with the directive.

The royal father said even when they became traditional rulers many years ago, their fore fathers made it compulsory for traditional rulers to reside in their native domains. He said at least 80 percent of the traditional rulers in the state have complied with the directive and those yet to comply are just taking unnecessary risks.

Obiefula said the traditional rulers and autonomous communities law No 11 of 1981 made it compulsory for all traditional rulers to reside in their domains while administering the affairs of their areas. He said the law does not allow any traditional ruler run his area from outside.

According to him, what the governor has done by introducing the Community Development Government (CDG) is ensuring that the law is well implemented, stressing that with the new policy, no traditional ruler would be allowed to rule his community from outside.

The chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri said the level of compliance of the Governor’s directive is high, adding that though there may be few of the traditional rulers still playing games, “but they have been warned to change their style and from indication they are bound to queue in the line.”

The monarch said some of the traditional rulers who are business men outside the state have gone back to tidy up their business so as to return to tend to their communities.

Another traditional ruler in the state, Eze Abdulfatai Chima Eze Emetuma, Duruemetuma the 3rd for the 9th of Umuofor autonomous community in Oguta LGA, accepted the Governor’s directive but insisted that the only thing to bring it to fruition is the introduction of the Community Government Council (CGC). “I am appealing that Governor Okorocha pass the bill into law so that whatever thing would be implemented under CGC will have legal backing. The earlier he does that the better,” Eze Emetuma said.

Eze Emetuma, who is also an Imam and Sheikh of Oguta Mosque said the CGC will enable the Ezes to remain in their domains to do their work, and even those in Diasporas would be exposed by the new practice. “Somebody cannot remain in America and say he is a traditional ruler, you cannot do that in the North or the South West. You as an oba or emir you reside in UK, Japan or United States of America and you say you are a king? So I think that one of the things that will make the Ezes operate from their domains is the CGC and the earlier the Governor signs the bill the better,” the royal father said.

In his reaction to the development, the traditional ruler of Ilile Autonomous Community in Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Eze Bonny Umah said Okorocha’s directive is a right step adopted to ensure that traditional rulers stay in their domains and be able to rule them very well.

He said a situation in which some traditional rulers abandon their communities and reside or rule their arras from outside, does not help to the rapid development of communities. He commended the Governor for taking such initiative which, he said, would give every traditional ruler in the state the opportunity to have closer observation of his people.

However, only time will tell whether Governor Okorocha will be able to make all the traditional rulers in his state obey his directive words.