Labour Party Candidates Denounce Soludo’s “Intolerance and High-Handedness”, Demand Compensation for Affected Traders

The Forum of Labour Party State House of Assembly candidates expressed strong disapproval of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. The condemnation revolves around the suspension of the traditional ruler of Neni Community, Igwe Damian O. Ezeani, and the subsequent destruction of goods belonging to street hawkers in the state capital, Awka.

The controversy ignited when the state government, on January 8, 2024, suspended Igwe Darmian O. Ezeani for conferring a chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. This move drew criticism from the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe, who expressed regret over the government’s harsh action.

In response, the Labour Party candidates issued a statement on Saturday, cautioning Governor Soludo against what they described as “intolerance and high-handedness.” The statement emphasized the transient nature of power and urged the governor to refrain from acting as if he were invincible.

The forum also decried the viral videos on social media depicting the destruction and burning of goods and wares belonging to street hawkers in Awka. The actions, carried out by individuals armed with cutlasses and axes from the office of Awka Capital Territory Authority, were labeled as “barbaric, inhumane, and wicked” by the Labour Party candidates.

Investigations by the forum revealed no existing law prohibiting traditional rulers from conferring chieftaincy titles on non-indigenes, challenging the government’s stance. Additionally, the group questioned the excessive force used against street traders, stating that there was no clear contravention of the Anambra State Land Use Law.

The Labour Party candidates called on the Anambra government to compensate those whose goods were destroyed within 21 days, warning that failure to do so would prompt affected individuals to seek legal redress. The statement also commended those who spoke out against the government’s actions, including Chairman Igwe Dr Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe and Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu, a House of Representatives member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency.