President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Anambra Oil Mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, to desist from fighting his home state government led by Chief Willie Obiano.
He said Obiano was doing a good job in his state, including supporting the federal government in key projects.
Buhari spoke on Friday afternoon when the businessman visited him a few minutes after the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, held a private meeting with the Nigerian leader.
The minister had briefed President Buhari on the situation in Anambra State.
According to sources in the State House, President Buhari told Eze: “Gov. Obiano is doing a good job in your state. And he has been supporting us in such key projects as the building of the Zik Mausoleum in Onitsha, the Second Niger Bridge and the reconstruction of many failed roads in the state.
“Go and reconcile with him as soon as possible. I don’t want man-made problems in that state.
“I consider you a friend, and that is why I allowed you here.
“I can’t bring myself to see those traditional rulers you brought, some of them have security and personal credibility questions.’’
Eze had gone to Abuja with 13 traditional rulers from Anambra State to meet the president and use the opportunity to read a prepared speech criticising Gov. Obiano, who belongs to the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
A senior intelligence officer in the National Security Adviser’s office, who craved for anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media, told a few select journalists this afternoon:
“The president’s attitude may have been influenced by the strong opposition to the planned traditional rulers’ visit by Southeastern appointees in the Buhari administration led by Dr Ngige, a former Anambra State governor, who regard the visit as insulting to the Igbo people.
“This is because wealthy people from other parts of the country do not assemble their monarchs to Abuja to insult their state governors over a purely local affair.
“The president, when he realised that Arthur Eze was on a mere ego trip, decided to cut him down to size.’’
Among the traditional rulers, who travelled to Abuja is the suspended monarch of Ukwulu in Dunukofia Local Government Area, Peter Uyanwa, who has since October 25, 2019, been facing charges of criminal forgery, perjury and conspiracy brought by the Buhari administration against him before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
