A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, has cautioned traditional rulers in the state to refrain from partisan politics and maintain neutrality in the discharge of their duties.
Ogbonnaya said traditional rulers must limit their roles to cultural matters and conflict resolution rather than meddling in political issues.
He gave the warning in Umuahia while reacting to a press statement in which the Abia Royal Fathers criticized the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for faulting the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
The royal fathers had accused Kalu of making inflammatory remarks capable of straining the relationship between Governor Otti and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, Chief Ogbonnaya, who holds the traditional title of Evulogu Ibeku, faulted the monarchs, saying they had abandoned their sacred roles to dabble into partisan politics.
“As a former commissioner in charge of traditional rulers, I have often advised them to leave politics to politicians and concentrate on their cultural responsibilities,” he stated.
Ogbonnaya described their warning to Kalu as insulting and an attempt to abridge his right to freedom of speech.
“The question is, what did the Deputy Speaker say that warrants a warning from the council of Abia traditional rulers? The governor holds in trust all revenue accruing to the state, and every Dick and Harry, including traditional rulers, deserves to know how it is spent,” he said.
“Kalu merely advised media groups and the government’s spokesperson to acknowledge the APC-led Federal Government for making more funds available to the state. When has it become a crime to seek clarifications on government projects — whether they were executed as claimed and at what cost?”
He accused the monarchs of reducing their dignity by acting as spokesmen for Governor Otti, adding that they should be ashamed of such conduct.
“While the economic realities in the country are forcing many people to demean themselves, I didn’t expect that from Abia monarchs,” he added.
Ogbonnaya urged the royal fathers to restrain themselves from political partisanship, warning that such conduct would not serve their institutions well.
He also commended Benjamin Kalu for demanding accountability from the governor, stressing that public funds must be subject to scrutiny.
“The money Alex Otti is spending is not his personal money, so he should not be jittery anytime he is called to give account of his stewardship,” he said.
The former commissioner, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), maintained that there was nothing wrong with Governor Otti acknowledging President Tinubu and the federal government for the improved revenue allocations to Abia State.
