Chieftaincy title for Buhari angers Abia monarchs

Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

The paramount ruler of Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, HRM Eze Isaac Ikonne, has been scolded by the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers for conferring a chieftaincy title on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).



Ikonne had conferred on Buhari the chieftaincy title of Ogbuagu 1 (Killer of Tiger) of Aba Kingdom at the weekend when he visited the monarch during an APC campaign rally in Aba.

Apparently irked by the action of the monarch, the council of royal fathers in the state scolded Ikonne and warned him to steer clear of partisan politics.

Chairman of the council of traditional rulers in the state, Eze Eberechi Dick, said Ikonne lacked the powers to confer such title on Buhari on behalf of Aba monarchs as he (Ikonne) is only in charge of his Eziama autonomous community .

He said that Aba had 400 autonomous communities, wondering why Ikonne alone would confer on Buhari a chieftaincy title on behalf of other traditional rulers without their consent.

He said, “Ikonne is even a tenant in his community because Osusu where Ikonne is resident has a traditional ruler. Aba in stricter sense is made up of two local government areas, namely Aba North and Aba South, while Aba as a zone is made up of nine council areas with over 400 communities.”

“Ikonne is therefore incompetent to give somebody title on behalf of Aba. Abia Traditional rulers hereby condemn Ikonne’s resort to politics.

“Ikonne hosted Buhari, (Imo State Governor) Rochas Okorocha, (Governor Rotimi) Amaechi of Rivers State and used the occasion to attack Abia State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria. We disown him and his statements.

“We shall investigate it and take appropriate actions.”

Also, the Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, accused Eze Ikonne of “consistently attacking the Governor Theodore Orji- led administration.”