ONITSHA—The face-off between Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and a governorship aspirant for the 2014 governorship election in the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, deepened yesterday as Obi’s recent distribution of vehicles to traditional rulers came under attack by Ubah. Governor Obi gave vehicles to each of the traditional rulers in the state to assist them.

But Ubah in a statement by his Director on Media and Publicity, Mr. Afam Ilouno, described the gesture as a ‘Greek Gift’ with a political undertone.

“Governor Peter Obi has suddenly woken up to recognize and respect the traditional institution by giving them vehicles after more than seven years of his administration. Ubah said: “These vehicles are the statutory rights of these royal fathers and they should have been given two vehicles each before now”.

According to Iloumo, Obi’s gesture is propelled by the recent visit of the traditional rulers to one of their illustrious sons, Ubah, in Lagos, where on departure they were given transport money back to the east.

The visit of the traditional rulers to Ubah, it would be recalled, caught the wrath of the governor who, on their arrival, ordered them to return the transport money to Ubah, threatening that any of them that failed to comply with the directive would be de-robed.

But the traditional rulers unanimously disobeyed the governor’s directive and rather chose to wait for the worst to happen which, however, was translated to the new vehicles that was recently given to each of them by Obi’s government.

Political observers opined that Obi’s action was predicated on his fears that Ubah was becoming too popular and may scuttle his plot to instal a governor that would succeed him come 2014.

Afam said: “The motive of Governor Obi giving the vehicles to traditional rulers almost at the end of his administration is well known to Anambra people.

“It is aimed at currying the favour of traditional rulers and people of Anambra so that he will have a leeway to instal a governor for Anambra State in 2014.

“Governor Obi should know that his antics and political gimmick would not work this time because the people of Anambra have vowed to resist any form of imposition of a governor on them.”

berem:
According to Iloumo, Obi’s gesture is propelled by the
recent visit of the traditional rulers to one of their
illustrious sons, Ubah, in Lagos, where on departure they
were given transport money back to the east.


The visit of the traditional rulers to Ubah, it would be
recalled, caught the wrath of the governor who, on their
arrival, ordered them to return the transport money to
Ubah, threatening that any of them that failed to comply
with the directive would be de-robed.

But the traditional rulers unanimously disobeyed the
governor’s directive and rather chose to wait for the worst
to happen which, however, was translated to the new
vehicles that was recently given to each of them by Obi’s
government.

According to Iloumo, Obi’s gesture is
propelled by the
recent visit of the traditional rulers to one of
their
illustrious sons, Ubah, in Lagos, where on
departure they
were given transport money back to the east.
The visit of the traditional rulers to Ubah, it
would be
recalled, caught the wrath of the governor
who, on their
arrival, ordered them to return the transport
money to
Ubah, threatening that any of them that failed
to comply
with the directive would be de-robed.
But the traditional rulers unanimously
disobeyed the
governor’s directive and rather chose to wait
for the worst
to happen which, however, was translated to
the new
vehicles that was recently given to each of
them by Obi’s
government.

Nightshift: I'm disappointed by Uba's support for the car gifts from Gov Obi. He even suggested that the chiefs should have been given two vehicles each.
It's a pity that tax payers money has been used to settle those modern ' Pimps' in Igboland.

Ubah said: “These vehicles are the statutory rights of these royal fathers and they should have been given two vehicles each before now”.

Garri the 1st:

Instead of putting heads together to find a way to develop their region, the so-called elders are traveling around the country, begging for money from "money-bags". These greedy folks care less about what happens to the people in their region.

Bunch of thieves!!

Acidosis:

buhahahahaa

An another aspirant would suffice and say "...they should have been given three vehicles each before now"

An another aspirant would suffice and say "...they should have been given four vehicles each before now"

An another gubernatorial f00l would come out to say they "...should have been given 10 Jets each"

Buhahahaha...

Highest bidder things with Anambra-Onitsha tax

..oya lets go there!!!
ANAMBRA FOR SALE!!

berem: Are you sure he really supported the governor? besides, if the governor wanted to give the traditional rulers cars, why wait for 7 whole years to do that. I don't see anything wrong with the car gifts. Most governors do the same. Remember that traditional rulers in Nigeria are being given monthly salaries by their various state government.

gbanikiti: There is nothing wrong giving them cars. The timing for splashing such gifts is rather suspicious.

Ifeanyi Ubah would have thought of giving them car gifts too but too late.

kingoflag: There is EVERYTHING wrong in giving them car gifts--- It's called bribery and graft and that's enough to end the political career of the Governor and land him in prison--- if he was ruling over sane people.

gbanikiti: Are they personal cars or official cars?

Nightshift: Igbo people are republican culturally. We can do without perhaps over 1000 traditional rulers who are often imposed by the various state governors on the people. Why have a traditional ruler in almost every Igbo street when we have elected councillors in every ward?
It's a shameful import from the feudal North elevated to a political norm in the second republic. The earlier we do away with such an undemocratic imposition, the better for Igboland. In my opinion, only few traditional rulers like Obi of Onitsha and Nze Njemanze of Owerri should be recognized by the state govts in the East.

Odenigbo Aroli:

You don't have any clue about what you are talking about.

berem: Are you sure he really supported the governor? besides, if the governor wanted to give the traditional rulers cars, why wait for 7 whole years to do that. I don't see anything wrong with the car gifts. Most governors do the same. Remember that traditional rulers in Nigeria are being given monthly salaries by their various state government.

Nightshift: As often as it has been on Igbo matters on NL, we can have different opinions.
Take a look at Achebe's take on the issue of traditional rulers in Igboland in his famous book " The Trouble With Nigeria". The book was published in mid 80s , when the foundation for the current 'chiefs' syndrome in Igboland was laid.
The NPP of Governors Jim Nwobodo and Sam Mbakwe politicized the stools of traditional rulers in Igboland. Since then, the situation has worsened with more government and money-bag influences.

Okija_juju: Statutory right?! TWO EACH?!


Where in the constitution is this stated?!

Nna men?! The black race muct be cursed o!!

Like seriously... WTF?!

berem:
“Governor Obi should know that his antics and political gimmick would not work this time because the people of Anambra have vowed to resist any form of imposition of a governor on them.”

SmartTalk:

Honestly, you are the only one making sense on this thread so far. We, the Igbo people, are Republicans. We do not recognize these "royal fathers". We must leave the backwardness of buying stuff for so-called royalty for Britain, and other African culture that believes in that system. And besides, Uba has questions to ask on corruption. Why is he not in jail? Oh, I forgot. It's a Nigerian thing. We would do away with corrupt individuals and faux-monarchy when Nigeria is done with the mistake of its existence. The Biafran nation will recognize NO MONARCH officially. We might only ceremonially recognize the two monarchs you mentioned but even they must work for their money. We would also put corrupt clowns like Uba where they belong - in jail.

Eko Ile: Ubah. - 1

Obi - 1



Now over to Ubah to make the next move by dashing the Awoof traditional rulers Rolls Royce and let's see if Obi go respond by dashing the same Awoof traditional rulers new mansions....

May the best man win at the expense of the people of Anambra...



lmao....

berem: Are you sure he really supported the governor? besides, if the governor wanted to give the traditional rulers cars, why wait for 7 whole years to do that. I don't see anything wrong with the car gifts. Most governors do the same. Remember that traditional rulers in Nigeria are being given monthly salaries by their various state government.

bobthebuilder99:

So...are the traditional rulers going to give the cars back?