An outcry has emerged from the Forum of Labour Party (LP) State House of Assembly Candidates, Anambra State, accusing Governor Chukwuma Soludo of inflicting trauma on the people.

In a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Mr. OCN Okafor, they condemned Soludo’s decision to suspend Igwe Damian Ezeani of Neni in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. The group also denounced the destruction of traders’ goods in Awka for conducting business by the roadside.

The group depicted the governor as playing God and emphasized the transient nature of power. They issued a 21-day ultimatum for the governor to compensate the traders whose goods were destroyed.

According to the group, the government suspended the Traditional Ruler of Neni community, H.R.H Igwe Damian O. Ezeani, on January 8, 2024, for conferring a Chieftaincy title on a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They also cited viral social media videos on January 16, 2024, showing the public destruction and burning of goods and wares of street hawkers in Awka by men armed with cutlasses and axes, working in the office of Awka Capital Territory Authority.

The Forum of Labour Party State House of Assembly Candidates condemned the state government’s actions as barbaric, inhuman, and wicked. They issued a stern warning to Governor Soludo, urging him not to plunge the state into anarchy with what they termed as “tyrannic tendencies.”

While acknowledging the importance of obeying existing laws, the group highlighted that, from their investigations, there was no existing law or code of conduct prohibiting Anambra State Traditional Rulers from conferring chieftaincy titles on non-indigenes of their community.

The group commended the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, H.R.M Igwe Dr. Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (CFR), and the House of Representatives member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu, for publicly speaking out against the intimidations and barbaric acts by the Anambra State Government.

They concluded by demanding that the State Government compensate those whose goods were destroyed within 21 days. Failure to do so, they stated that they would encourage their members, indigenes, or residents in the affected Local Governments to seek redress in court.