Open grazing: ‘Our hands are clean’ – South-East monarchs debunk bribery allegations

The Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze E.C. Okeke, has debunked the rumour on social media alleging that traditional rulers from the South-East region are involved in collecting a bribe from Fulani herdsmen to allow them graze their cattle freely in the region.

Newspot reports that the monarch reacted through a press statement he signed.

“I feel highly compelled to rise to the occasion and react to the dangerous and highly destructive misinformation that filtered into the media space through a TikTok social media content orchestrated by a so-called Fulani herdsman who alleged that the herders have always paid huge sums of money to Igbo traditional rulers before they gain access to our forests to graze their cattles whenever they plan to stay over longer period of time stretching to months.

“This allegation is so bogus and exaggerated as its mischievous intent can’t be hidden” he stated.

He pointed out that ordinarily, he would not have bothered to respond to such rumour which he said was shrouded in ambiguity and misinformation.

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He, however, said that he decided to react to the issue considering the danger, tension and mutual distrust such statements might cause in the already tense communities against the traditional rulers.

“It becomes pertinent that I should promptly do the needful to allay the fears of our people as the Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers.

“It is very important and urgent for me to respond to this damaging and instigating allegation that lacks proof and concrete evidence,” he said.

Eze Okeke, who is also Chairman, Imo State Council of Ndieze, maintained that while he does not intend to outrightly dismiss vital and sensitive issues that may be contained in the allegation, it is also very expedient and timely to challenge those that have any concrete evidence to prove the allegation.

He declared that the leadership of the Council would not hesitate to sanction any monarch who indulged in such an act.

“As traditional rulers, we know ourselves and know the limits of what we should do to avoid endangering the lives of our people.

“It is therefore baffling and embarrassing that such barefaced lies and falsehoods could be so brazenly told to ridicule Igbo traditional rulers in a bid to portray them as cheap and unconscionable individuals that can mortgage the lives of their subjects for mere porridge and paltry sums of money.

“It is highly disrespectful and blasphemous,” he further stated.

He called on the people of Southeast to discountenance the allegation and shun such evil machinations being propelled to stir up animosity, violence and unwarranted attacks against the traditional rulers.

“Nobody should be swayed by such unproven allegations that South East Traditional Rulers engage in such shabby and shoddy deals as our doors are wide open for whoever has strong evidence to promptly come forward and make the identities of such erring traditional rulers known.

“That is the only way to give credence to the TikTok narrative instead of mere speculations or assumptions,” he concluded.