*Warns Abia Royal Fathers To Refrain from partisan politics.
* Defends Kalu for demanding accountability from Otti
A former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in Abis state, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya has warned traditional rulers in the state to refrain from partisan politics.
He said in the exercise of their traditional roles, traditional rulers must be neutral and restrict themselves to matters pertaining to culture and settlement of disputes.
He gave the warning in Umuahia in response to a press statement where the Abia Royal fathers berated the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu for criticizing the administration of Gov Alex Otti.
The Royal Fathers had accused the Deputy Speaker of making inflammatory statements capable of straining the relationship between Otti and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, Ogbonnaya, who holds the traditional title of Evulogu Ibeku, faulted the Royal fathers, saying they had left their roles to veer into politics.
He noted that as a former commissioner in charge of traditional rulers, he had often advised them to leave politics to politicians and concentrate on their cultural roles.
Ogbonnaya said the warning they issued to Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu was not only insulting but tended to abridge his right to freedom of speech.
” The question is, what did the Deputy Speaker say that warrants warning him council of Abia traditional rulers? The governor is holding on trust all revenue accruing to the state, and every Dick and Harry, including the traditional rulers, deserves to know how it is dispensed. Kalu merely advised media groups in the state and spokesperson of the government to endeavour to acknowledge and appreciate the APC federal government for making more money available to the state.
When has it turned a crime to seek clarifications on government projects, whether such projects were done as claimed and for how much?
He said that turning themselves into the spokesmen of Otti, the traditional rulers have degraded their status and should be ashamed of themselves.
He noted that while the economic realities in the country are forcing many people to belittle themselves, he didn’t expect such from Abia monarchs.
He urged them to restrain themselves from political partisanship as that would not augur well for them.
Ogbonnaya commended Kalu for demanding accountability from the governor.
Said he ,” 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. The former commissioner, who is a leading member of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), also declared that there was nothing wrong in Otti acknowledging Tinubu and the federal government on the improved revenue to the state.
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