Oshiomole Suspends Traditional ruler for Allegedly Voting PDP

 

Edo State Government today  suspended His Royal Highness Anselm O Aidenojie, the Onojie of Uromi from office as the Onojie for seven days.

In a letter signed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere dated October 26, 2016, titled “Suspension from Office as Traditional Ruler”, stated as follows: 

“I write to convey to you, the decision of the Edo State Executive Council at its meeting on the 26^th October 2016, suspending you from office for 7 days as Onojie of Uromi. The suspension from office was based on, among other reasons:

‘Your unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016 in full public glare to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office;

‘Your refusal, even after two weeks, to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority; and

‘Travelling outside the country without appropriate permission in further demonstration of your disregard for extant regulations and laws.’

“In the circumstances, the State Executive Council has arrived at a conclusion that these and other acts of misconduct of Your Royal Highness, the Onojie of Uromi are not only distasteful but also unbecoming of a traditional ruler of your status.

“Based on the above and convinced that your Highness has denied yourself of the opportunity of entering a plea against the charges against you that were duly conveyed in writing to you, and therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Executive Council by virtue of Section 28(1) of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) and all other Laws enabling it in that behalf, has approved your suspension from office as the Onojie of Uromi with immediate effect for a period of seven (7) days, that is, from the 26^th of October 2016 to the 1^st of November, 2016.

“Consequently, within the suspension period, you shall cease to be recognized and treated as traditional ruler or as the Onojie of Uromi in Edo State and you shall not exercise any powers or function or enjoy any privileges provided for under the Traditional Rulers and Chief Law (1979) and all other relevant provisions under the said law.

“Within the 7-day suspension period, you are required to tender unreserved apologies to your victim, Mrs Betty Okoebor and the Government of Edo State. However, if within the said 7 days no public apology in tendered by your very self, you will stand deposed as the Onojie of Uromi.”  

Meanwhile PDP members on social media, have cried out saying the governor suspended the traditional ruler as part of ongoing grand-plan to victimised those who voted for the PDP in the last governorship elections. 

There are also allegations that the Onojie of Uromi, turned down a prado jeep that was given to him by governor Adams Oshiomole before the elections. 

Whichever the case may be, the question that readily comes to mind is, does the governor of a state have the constitutional right of suspension of a traditional authority for reasons listed in the letter signed by the SSG above? 

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