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2023: Council of Traditional Rulers of the 3 senatorial zones endorse Enugu PDP guber candidate, Mbah

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

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Since the end of his ‘Thank You’ tour to the 17 local government areas of the state on his emergence, the Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag-bearer, Barr Peter Mbah, has witnessed endorsements by the Traditional Rulers council of Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu West senatorial zones.

The gale of endorsements, signified by the handing over of the traditional Ọfọ, began with the Enugu East senatorial zone council of Traditional Rulers, the PDP Guber Flag-bearer’s zone, on August 25, 2022.

Speaking in the presence of the mammoth crowd in his Palace, Igwe Julius Nnaji, the Chairman of the council in the zone, said the gathering was in fulfilment of the traditional rites of endorsement of Mbah’s candidacy because of his wealth of experiences both in the public and private sectors, praying God to grant him victory in the forthcoming elections slated for March next year.

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Igwe Nnaji said he was handing the Ọfọ to Mbah in the name of Nkanuland and its people, praying for his remarkable victory in the elections. Enjoining him to be governor of all the people of the state, Igwe Nnaji said he had no doubt that Mbah would transform the state and take it to enviable heights.

Next were the Traditional Rulers of Enugu North senatorial zone, the zone where Mbah’s running mate, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, hails from, on August 30, 2022.

Declaring their position on their preferred governorship candidate in Enugu State ahead of the March 2023 general elections, the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council in the zone, Igwe RSN Eze, on behalf of the Monarchs, recalled how the Nsukka zone gave Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi overwhelming support in the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections in the state. The traditional ruler assured Mbah that the zone would replicate the same gesture for him during the election.

Noting that the three senatorial zones in Enugu State were siblings, Igwe Simon Itodo, a Grand Patron of the council, called for continued prayer for the sustainability of peace in the state.

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He further admonished the gubernatorial candidate’s running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, to work closely with his principal, saying “You should be loyal to him as both of you lead the state.”

In what could arguably be described as the summit of the endorsements, the Council of Traditional Rulers of Enugu West senatorial zone, August 31, 2022, declared that having endorsed Mbah, they had no more royal blessings for other guber candidates.

The Monarchs who converged at the palace of the Chairman, Enugu West senatorial zone traditional rulers council, Igwe Godwin Ndubueze Madu of Enugu Achi, Mbaogu Kingdom, Oji River local government area of Enugu State, said their decision to settle for Mbah’s candidacy was informed by his excellent background in the private and public sectors.

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Noting that the oil and gas mogul did not lobby to be endorsed by the royal fathers whom he described as people with integrity, honesty and unimpeachable character, Igwe Madu maintained that the Ọfọ presented to Mbah would serve as a divine link between the people and their ancestors, affirming that the people of the zone had accepted his candidature with satisfaction.

In all of these senatorial zones, the guber candidate was filled with appreciation to the Monarchs for their acceptance and promised to imbibe the same principles of equity, justice and fairness in the course of his leadership, adding that he would partner with the traditional rulers to shove up development in the different zones.

Mbah was elected the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the May 25 primary election that was held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Political pundits believe that the endorsements by the Traditional Rulers from the 3 senatorial zones of the state will definitely translate to a win for the PDP candidate because the Monarchs had done the same for all the Governors of the state since return to democracy in 1999 and they all won the elections.