AWKA – Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano on Thursday in Awka, the State capital may stir a fresh controversy as he called for an emergency meeting of traditional rulers in the state to coincide with the day Atiku and Obi were billed to meet the same set of monarchs and other leaders in Onitsha.
This is coming barely one week after the Governor expressed misgivings words with the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo over the body’s adoption of the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Peter Obi for the February 16 Presidential election.
Although his Chief of Staff, Primus Odili denied the meeting was deliberately fixed to frustrate the PDP candidates from meeting the rulers, one of the traditional rulers who said, Obi, as Governor elevated them to the status they currently enjoyed expressed that fear to journalists.
The notice of the meeting sent to the rulers read: “I am directed by the Hon. Commissioner to inform all traditional rulers that the State Government wants to have an all-important Retreat with them tomorrow, Thursday, January 31, 2019, at Prof Dora Akunyili WDC, Awka by 10 am prompt. Many thanks, Ernest”.
Also speaking at his palace where Atiku and Obi met rulers who could make it, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe confirmed the meeting Governor Obiano fixed with the traditional rulers yesterday in Awka which he explained was the reason some rulers could not welcome Atiku and Obi.
Igwe Achebe told Alhaji Atiku and Obi that when he received the notice for the meeting he called the Governor to inform him about the clash in dates and time added that he receives a directive from the commissioner of local governments and chieftaincy matters mandating the traditional rulers to attend the meeting at Government House, unfailingly.
However, Odili described as untrue the speculations that Obiano fixed the emergency meeting of traditional rulers of the state in Awka to stop them from meeting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Odili, who represented Obiano at the meeting of the monarchs and Presidents-General of communities in Anambra State said the rumour that they were invited to Awka to prevented them from meeting Atiku and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi was false.
Odili denied any plot to keep the monarchs away from the PDP candidate, saying that the Governor called the meeting, without knowing that the monarchs were billed to meet with Atiku.
Addressing the meeting, Odili said: “It has just come to my notice that there is fear that we brought you here to cage you and stop you from meeting some people who were supposed to meet with you in Onitsha.
“I want to use this opportunity to say that it is not true. Governor Obiano did not know that you people had something else to do today. He asked me to call this emergency meeting for us to tackle problems we have had in some parts of Anambra between cattle herdsmen and farmers.
“One traditional ruler just came to me to express the fear, but I want to allay your fears.
“It is not true. The governor did not call you here so that you will stay away from Onitsha. The governor did not abandon you too, if you know him well, you will know he is not one to disrespect people.
“Let me tell you that as we speak, the governor is in Abuja for an emergency meeting of governors. He left very early this morning and called me when he arrived Abuja. He is not in Anambra and that is the truth.
“I think the leadership of the traditional rulers would have passed a message to the governor if he knew that there was another meeting with other people in Onitsha.
“I tell you in all sincerity that the governor is not aware of your other meeting, and he did not bring you here to cage you”. He stated.
The post Again, Obiano Enmeshed In Controversy Over Atiku-Obi’s Ticket appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Source: Daily Independent
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Again, Obiano Enmeshed In Controversy Over Atiku-Obi’s Ticket
Description : AWKA – Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano on Thursday in Awka, the State capital may stir a fresh controversy as he called for an emerg...
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