In a statement signed by the council's Secretary-General, Igwe Pius Omachonu, and given to The Niche on Saturday, the council made this clear.
The statement came after Atiku's reception in the Traditional Council Chamber at Government House in Awka was criticized. It was said that the Obi, who is the head of the Traditional Council, met Atiku at an events center.
In a statement, the council said, "The monthly meeting of the Traditional Council usually takes place on the second Tuesday of every month at the Traditional Council chambers at the Government House, Awka." The statement went on to explain what happened during Atiku's visit. But the meeting was often moved to other dates that worked better because of things that came up. The meeting for December 2022, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday, December 13, was moved to Thursday, December 15, because the Chairman and two Deputy Chairmen of the Traditional Council were at the annual general assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria on Monday, December 12, 2022, and the Chairman was at the events marking the 45th Anniversary of FESTAC 77 on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, both in Awka. Changes to the date were made a long time before the PDP presidential campaign team asked to come.
"On December 10, 2022, High Chief Ben Obi, Chairman of the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, wrote to the Chairman of the Traditional Council to tell him that the party's presidential candidate would visit Anambra State on Thursday, December 15, 2022. The letter also said that part of the visit "would be a courtesy call on you and members of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council under your chairmanship at the Council's chamber in Awka on the same date, Thursday, December 15, 2022."
"People will remember that during their campaigns for president four years ago, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, met with the traditional rulers of Anambra State at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, chairman of the Traditional Council. After the visits, the top level of the state government didn't agree on whether both visits were personal to the Obi of Onitsha or to the traditional rulers of Anambra State. The effects of these misunderstandings are still fresh in people's minds. As a result, the Traditional Council has decided that all visits to the body should take place in the Traditional Council chambers at Government House in Awka, preferably during its regular meetings. This difference is exactly the same as it is everywhere else in the country. For example, the Northern Traditional Rulers Council does not meet at the palace of its leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, but at Arewa House in Kaduna.
The Osun State Traditional Rulers Council doesn't meet at the palace of its leader, the Ooni of Ife, etc., but instead in Osogbo. People who want to talk to the different traditional councils would have to go to where they meet. On the other hand, when politicians go to the palaces of traditional rulers, they only talk to the monarchs and don't invite any other members of their State Traditional Councils.
"It was lucky that everyone's schedules lined up for the 15 December 2022 PDP courtesy call on the Traditional Council. This was especially true for the Chairman of the Traditional Council, who had just returned from Abuja the day before. Obi of Onitsha, who is the Chairman of the Traditional Council, would have had a terrible time if he had to first meet the PDP campaign team at his palace in Onitsha and then drive through the city's heavy traffic to Awka to lead the regular meeting of the Traditional Council, which would have included meeting the PDP team.
"It's interesting to note that the PDP presidential candidate wasn't the first person to go to the Traditional Council's chambers at the Government House in Awka.
"In fact, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, CON, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, former Governor, and a most worthy son of Anambra State and Nigeria, first announced his intention to run for the Presidency on the PDP platform at the regular meeting of the Traditional Council at its chambers in Government House, Awka, in March 2022. The Traditional Council thought it was a great honor that our son respected the traditional institution by using our forum to tell the whole world what he wanted to do.
"The Traditional Council as a whole is proud of how politically neutral it is, and they always pray for the voters to choose the best candidates to lead the country." This principle is shown by making sure that all candidates for a certain office have the same chances of winning, reminding them of the importance of free, fair, and open elections, and hoping that voters choose the best candidates. The Traditional Council also tries to help the elected candidates by giving them advice and suggestions for improvement. In this spirit, the Traditional Council met with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on December 15 and Mr. Peter Obi in March 2022. It will also meet with other presidential candidates if they ask, regardless of how each traditional ruler votes in elections.
"The polite visit had to be short." After the Chairman of the Traditional Council, Obi Gibson Nwosu, gave an introduction, Eze Uzu Awka said traditional prayers with Kola nuts. Then, the presidential candidate's team members introduced him and he said a few words.
"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar spoke like a true statesman when he said that traditional rulers shouldn't be involved in partisan political issues." He just asked people to pray for the country and the candidates so that the best one would win. His verified Twitter account says, "I just finished a consultation meeting with the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, led by His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, CFR." This is a good summary of the visit. I'm glad to have the chance to talk to you, and I'm very grateful for your blessings.
"The Traditional Council thinks that democracy would be best served, especially in diverse countries like Nigeria, if political differences were based on philosophy, ideology, and manifestos and not on ethnic, religious, or personal feelings." That is what makes democratic countries like India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc. strong. We think Nigeria has everything it needs to become a great democracy: mutual understanding, respect for every citizen's basic human rights, and justice and fairness for all.
"The Traditional Council has the highest regard for its Chairman, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, mni, and is very proud of the work he has done for the country," The Traditional Council thinks that his character and his many roles as a leader in the country are excellent and can't be questioned. They are proud of how humble he is, which some might see as a sign of weakness but most people see as a sign of his amazing but quiet dignity. As a progressive monarch of the 21st century, he has no problem standing up to talk to his fellow traditional rulers about important issues, with or without visitors.
"The Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council hopes that the above gives enough background and explanation of the reception it gave to His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, the Presidential candidate of the PDP, on December 15, 2022, in the Traditional Council chambers of the Government House in Awka."
