Traditional rulers were paid N10k monthly before Otti increased it – Abia Monarch
The Traditional Ruler of Okahia Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area, Eze Okey Ananaba, has expressed profound appreciation to Governor Alex Otti for significantly improving the welfare of traditional rulers across Abia State.
Eze Ananaba, while speaking to reporters, disclosed that the governor took immediate steps to address the long-standing neglect of traditional institutions by increasing their monthly stipend from as low as N10,000 to a minimum of N250,000 per monarch. According to him, this adjustment was made after the governor became aware of the paltry sums monarchs had been receiving for years.
“Some of us were paid just N10,000 monthly, while the so-called leaders among us got N30,000. We endured this under successive governments despite our contributions as custodians of culture and law,” he lamented.
The monarch emphasized that since the return of democracy in 1999, traditional rulers in the state had not experienced such recognition and inclusion until Governor Otti’s emergence. He noted that for years, royal fathers had supported previous administrations faithfully, yet were met with indifference and underappreciation.
Eze Ananaba commended the current administration not only for reviewing the traditional rulers’ stipends but also for ensuring prompt payments, stating that the N250,000 stipend is now paid every 28th of the month, alongside salaries for civil servants in the state.
In addition to the improved welfare, the royal father praised the governor for the ongoing infrastructural developments witnessed in various parts of the state. These include the massive reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, the retrofitting of healthcare centers, and the renovation of public schools — all of which he described as “visible and impactful achievements in under two years.”
Calling on his fellow traditional rulers, Eze Ananaba urged them to remain supportive of Governor Otti’s government and avoid undermining efforts aimed at transforming the state.
“We must not sabotage the governor’s sincere drive to develop every corner of Abia. We have no better alternative than to stand firmly behind him. If we make the mistake of reversing this progress, we risk returning to those dark days of pain and neglect,” he cautioned.
He described politics as a game of interest but warned that the collective interest of Abians should take precedence over personal or partisan politics, especially considering the progress currently being made.
This statement from the monarch further solidifies the growing support and endorsement Governor Alex Otti continues to receive from traditional institutions, grassroots leaders, and citizens alike, as his administration pushes forward with its people-centered development agenda.
