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The Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) who also doubles as the Peace Ambassador of the United Nations and Amb Johnny Metchie, has appealed to state Governors across Nigeria to ensure security of traditional rulers and presidents-general in communities.
Metchie who made the call on Tuesday in an interview stated that it has become necessary that government extend protection to community leaders judging from the roles they play in fighting crimes and criminality at the grassroots level.
Although he voiced concern about the ongoing cruel treatment of some traditional leaders and presidents-general across the nation, he specifically mentioned Anambra State, where he claimed some presidents-general had been beaten like common criminals and were being illegally detained by the police on the orders of some wealthy locals who incited young people against town unions and traditional institutions.
Metchie who called for a legislation to secure and protect the lives of monarchs and town union leaders, observed that some Presidents-General are on self exile because they are running away from marauding elements in their communities threatening to take their lives if they ever set foot in their communities.
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According to him, kings and presidents-general should no longer be handled with child gloves when it comes to their protection and safety since they are frequently the main targets of irate groups and their supporters, who obstruct social progress in communities.
He claims that the work of town union presidents general is excessively hazardous and unsafe, and he goes on to say that if they are not charged with theft and misappropriation, their lives are in danger and that most of the time, the unfortunate presidents general do not make it through the threats.
He said a case in point was the murder of the President-General of Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area sometime ago and that till date, nothing has been said about the killers of the Nimo town union leader, adding that Nimo episode was one out of the many episodes of Presidents-General being murdered in cold blood.
He was however of the opinion that government should come to the aid of traditional rulers and presidents-general through watertight security arrangements to enable them win the war against criminal elements in the hinterlands.
The UN Peace Ambassador who is also the President-General of Umueri community in Anambra-East Local Government Area, lauded the efforts of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo in the security of lives and property of the citizens while appealing to the Police and other security agencies to work in concert with Presidents-General and other community leaders and also help to guarantee confidentiality of sources when intelligences are provided.
