By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In a yet another major bold step in the build-up of the November 8 governorship election, thousands of native doctors and traditional spiritual practitioners in Anambra State have unanimously declared their unflinching support for the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, endorsing him for a second term in office.
Declared over the weekend, the massive endorsement came during a well-attended meeting held in Awka, the state capital, where the native doctors gathered in their numbers to deliberate on recent legislative developments affecting their practice and to clear the air on widespread misconceptions regarding the government’s stance on traditional institutions and indigenous spirituality.
The gathering, which attracted spiritual medicine practitioners, herbalists, and sellers of spiritual materials from across the 21 local government areas of the state, also served as a platform to sensitize the practitioners on the provisions of the newly passed Anambra State Homeland Security Law, which formally recognizes and distinguishes genuine native doctors from criminal elements and ritualists who hide under the guise of traditional practice to commit atrocities.
In his address at the meeting, the Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Honourable Ikenna Ofodeme, assured the practitioners that Governor Soludo remains a firm believer in the sanctity of Igbo culture, customs, and traditions. He emphasized that the Governor, contrary to certain misrepresentations, has never been against the traditional institution, but rather supports the promotion and proper regulation of indigenous practices in line with modern governance.
Hon. Ofodeme revealed that the State Assembly recently passed a landmark bill that formally organizes, recognizes, and structures the operations of native doctors in Anambra, with the aim of preserving Igbo traditional beliefs while eliminating harmful and criminal elements from the system. He added that Governor Soludo wasted no time in giving assent to the bill, in a move widely seen as a bold step towards cultural inclusion and security reform.
“The Soludo administration is inclusive and progressive. It is not anti-tradition, neither is it anti-culture. Rather, it supports our identity and heritage as a people. But at the same time, this government has drawn a clear line between genuine native doctors and criminals who exploit our culture to harm others,” Hon. Ofodeme said.
He also issued a strong warning to those still hiding under the cover of native doctoring to perpetrate evil, stressing that the new law would soon catch up with them. According to him, such miscreants must desist or face the full wrath of the law, as the government is determined to sanitize the space and uphold the dignity of true traditional practitioners.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the State Coordinator of Native Doctors and Spiritual Material Sellers in Anambra, Hon. Daniel Ejie, hailed Governor Soludo for his courage, vision, and inclusive leadership style. He described the Homeland Security law as a bold and timely intervention that has not only sanitized the system but also granted the native doctors a sense of autonomy and legitimacy in the state.
“Before now, we were lumped together with criminals, and our image was terribly misunderstood. But Governor Soludo has restored our dignity by recognizing us officially and granting us legal backing. He has shown that he understands the role of traditional spirituality in Igbo cosmology and governance,” Hon. Ejie remarked.
He further expressed the group’s gratitude to the State House of Assembly for taking the initiative to sponsor the bill and seeing it through to passage, noting that such legislative courage had reawakened a sense of pride among genuine native doctors in Anambra State.
The meeting also highlighted the historical and cultural significance of traditional spiritual practice among the Igbo, with several speakers reminding the participants that, from ancient times, Ndi Igbo have always upheld their customs and traditions without resorting to crime or human abuse. They emphasized the importance of protecting and promoting the indigenous belief system, not only as a form of worship but also as a symbol of identity and cultural preservation.
Among other features, chants of solidarity and drumming echoed throughout the venue, as the native doctors collectively declared their total support Governor Soludo’s re-election bid, citing his numerous achievements, people-oriented policies, and genuine commitment to inclusive governance as reasons for their decision.
They commended the Governor’s infrastructural strides, digital governance reforms, youth empowerment programmes, and efforts to create a safe and lawful environment for all lawful professions, including indigenous ones.
With this endorsement, the native doctors have joined the growing list of groups and stakeholders who have publicly declared their support for Governor Soludo’s second term ambition, even as the build-up to the 2025 Anambra gubernatorial election gathers momentum.
