By METROWATCH Reporter
Traditional rulers in Delta North senatorial district under the aegies of Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum have vowed they would ensure that Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, emerges vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Monarchs also promised to throw their weight behind Prince Ned Nwoko and Hon. Ndudi Elumelu in their quests for a seat in the Senate and Federal House of Representative respectively.
The monarchs said even when they are not card carrying members of any political party, they have a right as stakeholders in determining who represents them in the state and national levels to ensure good governance.
Chairman of the forum and immediate past chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Obi Dr EO Efeizomor ll, Obi of Owa, spoke on behalf of the monarchs recently when Prince Ned Nwoko paid a courtesy visit to the forum in Owa palace ground.
Obi Efeizomor, who was flanked by about 30 other kings, who included Obi of Ubulu Unor, Obi of Umunede, Obi of Igbodo, Obi of Issele Uku and Ugoani of Okpanam, among others said,
“We are very happy to see you in our mist, it is a mark of respect and honour for the traditional rulers, we appreciate you because of the respect you have for His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, and the contributions and support you have made in ensuring that Okowa finishes strong.
“We are solidly behind Governor Okowa in the actualisation of the collective ambition to become the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will swim or sink with him in this project, It is a task we will fight with all our strength, if he wins, we win, wherever he goes, we follow, he is our son.”
The monarchs also prayed for Prince Ned Nwoko in his quest for a seat in the Senate saying ” we need somebody like you to represent us at the Federal level because of your track record of humility and respect for constituted authority”, adding that “with people like you and Ndudi Elumelu, it will be easy to attract development to the region and the state in general”.
The monarchs also described Ned Nwoko as a “source of pride to Anioma nation”, saying, “we are solidly behind you”.
The monarchs said as part of measures to ensure a free and fair election in the region, the king’s in their respective Kingdoms have carried out enlightenment campaigns on the need for the subjects to get their PVC in readiness for the forthcoming elections adding that the traditional rulers have concluded plans to visit the INCE offices to know the state preparedness for the election.
Prince Ned Nwoko, PDP Delta North Senatorial candidate in his response, thanked the royal fathers for their overwhelming love and solidarity.
He said he would restore the glory of Anioma at the National Assembly.
Nwoko pledged to ensure distinct constitutional role for Traditional rulers with appropriate legislation to promote their status as custodians of cultural values and history.
The PDP senatorial candidate also gave assurance that the empowerment of youths and women as important stakeholders in the society, would his basic agenda at the Senate.
The monarchs were drawn from the nine Anioma local government areas of Ika North East, Ika South, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani.
