60 Abia State traditional rulers confer chieftaincy title Ikeogu of Igboland on Buhari

TRADITIONAL rulers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have conferred the chieftaincy title of Ikeogu of Igboland in President Muhammadu Buhari during a recent campaign rally saying they did so because of the good job he is doing.

Literally meaning fighter for Ndigbo, the new title was conferred on President Buhari by over 60 traditional rulers in Isiukwuato/Umunneochi constituency. Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Logo  of Amuda Isuochi, Eze Okechukwu Chukwuji, said that their decision to honour the president with a chieftaincy title was based on the good work that the he has done since assuming office in 2015.

In 2014, the then candidate Muhammadu Buhari was conferred with the title of the Ogbuagu of Igboland in Abia State by the Enyi of Aba, His Imperial Majesty Eze Isaac Ikonne. Translated to mean, the lion killer, a metaphor for a champion, the gesture was not popular at the time but since then, President Buhari has received at least three more chieftaincy titles in Igboland.

This latest conferment, which was held when the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Umunneochi/Isiukwuato constituency Hon Nkeiruka Onyejiocha flagged off his election campaign, was well attended by numerous dignitaries. Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje who received the chieftaincy title on behalf of the president, thanked the traditional ruler for such an honour

Eze Okechukwu Chukwuji, said: “Our presence here is to show the APC family that we are supporting her and we are going to give you our support. Based on the good job of Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, we the committee of traditional rulers in Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency decided that we should honour him because of the great job that he has been doing.

“In every society, everyone must not agree with you. We honoured him with the traditional title of Ikeogu Ndi Igbo because Mr President is a brand and we are supporting him.”

Governor Ganduje added: “President Buhari loves Nigeria, there is no doubt about it. The president of Nigeria is always telling us that we should take advantage of our diversity and every ethnic group has its comparative advantages in terms of nature, achievements.

“Everybody knows that the people of the southeast geopolitical zone are very hardworking people, which is why they are succeeding in cohabiting peacefully with other members of the country. Your people have gone high in terms of entrepreneurship and we should take advantage of that, so, President Buhari is happy with the chieftaincy title and I will convey it to him and we appreciate what you have done."

Other dignitaries who went with Governor Ganduje to receive the award include Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the former governor of Akwa Ibom State Senator Godswill Akpabio. APC leaders present included the southeast national vice chairman Emma Enukwu, and its 2015 Abia State governorship candidate Chief Nyerere Anyim.