Abia March 11: Traditional rulers rally community leaders for Emenike’s guber project

**As govt warns royal fathers to keep off partisan politics or risk sanctions

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The traditional Rulers Council of Ikwuano/Umuahia political bloc in Abia State have affirmed their decision to endorse the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), High Chief Ikechi Emenike.

The affirmation took place at the expanded meeting of the royal fathers at Abam, Ubakala in Umuahia South local government where they also kept to their promise of bringing on board all the other levels of leaderships in their various domains to support the governorship project of Emenike. 

The development is coming at a time the state government has expressed dismay that recognised royal fathers were dabbling into partisan politics, threaten to deal decisively with any monarch who fails to retrace his steps.

Recall that at the close of last year, the Ikwuano/Umuahia royal fathers adopted the governorship candidate of the Abia APC at a meeting held at Ajata na Igu in Ikwuano local government. In keeping to their resolution, they went back and mobilised other levels of leaderships in their domains to affirm their choice of Emenike.

At the expanded meeting of the Council of Ndi Eze held at Abam, Ubakala in Umuahia South local government on Wednesday, December 18, 2023, 69 royal fathers were in attendance, in addition to 120 Village Heads and all the Presidents-General of the town unions in Ikwuano/Umuahia communities.

The Ugoezes (League of Wives of Traditional Rulers) were also present in their full numbers to lend support to their husbands and also to assure them of their readiness to fully mobilise the women of Ikwuano/Umuahia to play their role in making a new Abia possible with their ballots.

Observers said it was the largest gathering of stakeholders so far to endorse the Rescue and Develop Abia (RADA) agenda of the Abia APC governorship flag bearer and further stamp the Ajata na Igu declaration of December 31, 2022 in which the royal fathers endorsed and adopted Emenike, and told him “we want you to go for us.”

At the expanded meeting of the royal fathers, ugoezes, village heads, and P-Gs, held at Abam Ubakala, the stakeholders solidified the stance of the royal fathers. They affirmed their unflinching support for the 2023 governorship project of “our own son.”

Those that spoke on behalf of the various groups boldly declared their choice of Emenike as the only candidate they believe has the capacity, courage, commitment and the needed political will to shake Abia out of its present inertia to accelerated development.

According to them, the other 17 governorship candidates presented by other political parties have been scrutinised and found wanting in the task of building a new Abia after “the disappointing and regrettable long years the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in control of Abia.”

In his address, Emenike reiterated his burning desire to lift Abia out of the miry pit it was plunged into by successive inept leaders foisted on the state by the ruling party.

He said that Abia cannot do without having building blocks of development in order to create a sustainable environment of job opportunities, flourishing of commercial and industrial activities and expanded and steady flow of revenue to the coffers of government.

The APC governorship hopeful urged all eligible voters in Abia to ensure they collected their Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) and use them to vote out the old order of retrogression and usher in a new Abia that would take its rightful place as well-governed, developed state in Nigeria.

He said that the electorate should drop the old held belief that “our votes don’t count” and come out en masse to perform their civic duty of electing the right crop of leaders in 2023 for their own interest and for the interest of their children, as well as the coming generations.

According to him, voters should be concerned with casting their ballots without entertaining any fear about the possibility of anti-democratic forces stealing their votes as had always happened in the past polls.

Emenike assured  Abia voters that strategies have been put in place to ensure that in the 2023 general election, votes must count and nobody would be allowed to steal another person’s mandate.

“Do your own by casting your votes for me and I will do my own by defending the votes. God will do the rest,” he said, adding that the 2023 general election in Abia was a battle that must be fought and won, for the state to experience good governance.

Meanwhile, Abia State government has warned traditional rulers in the state to distance themselves from partisan politics or risk consequences.

In a statement endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, government warned that it has received reports of traditional rulers meddling in partisan politics. It said it has received reports of seven traditional from the three senatorial zones in the state meddling in partisan politics, threatening to wield the big hammer if they do not retrace their steps.

The statement reads:

“Government has observed with dismay, the brazen impunity exhibited by some  Traditional Rulers who have abandoned their primary responsibilities as custodians of tradition and customs  of our people, and descended  into the arena of partisan politics in the state.

“This Administration has also been inundated with reports of involvement of recognized traditional Rulers from Abia North , Central and South, who have thrown caution to the winds in breach of existing public order.

“To this end, Government has taken notice  of the activities of 3 traditional Rulers from Abia North, 2  from Abia Central and 2 from Abia South.

“By   this final notice, all traditional rulers are warned to desist forthwith from such unwholesome act as government  will not hesitate to sanction any erring traditional Ruler going forward.”