In a bid to promote Igbo language, Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has threatened to dethrone any traditional ruler who speaks English in a public forum in the state.
Okorocha stated this in Owerri, the state capital while inaugurating the Imo Traditional rulers Parliament.
“Any monarch who speaks English in any public forum risks losing his traditional stool,” the governor said.
Reacting to the governor’s position, a traditional title holder, Chief Okenwa Igbokwe said such measures are necessary to curtail the erosion of Igbo language by foreign languages. “I commend Gov. Okorocha for this directive. Before now, it is like most of our royal fathers are ashamed to speak in Igbo language. Even at public functions, some of them will use the English to introduce kola nuts; some cannot speak Igbo language without combining it with English. It is that bad.”
Igbokwe maintained that such directive by the governor came at the right time to ensure that the Igbo language does not go extinct.
The traditional chief further lauded the various efforts by Okorocha to promote Igbo language which includes the inauguration of the traditional parliament.